The Effect of Damask Rose Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Dental Anxiety and Pain on Children Undergoing Local Anesthesia: A Randomized Clinical Trial

AIM: to evaluate the role of Damask rose essential oils aromatherapy versus no aromatherapy in the reduction of dental anxiety and pain of children undergoing administration of local anesthesia.Materials and methods: Forty-six Egyptian children aged 7-12 years were equally randomized into two groups: Group I (rose oil) and Group II (control). The rose group inhaled rose oil for 5 minutes using an air diffuser while the control group received just distilled water with no essential oil in the diffuser, before local anesthesia administration. Heart rate, oxygen saturation and blood pressure were assessed before application, after inhalation, after local anesthesia injection, and after extraction. While the assessment of pain was conducted using the Face-Leg-Activity-Cry-Consolability (FLACC) scale during the administration of local anesthesia.Results: oxygen saturation, blood pressure dental anxiety, and pain showed no significant difference between the rose oil group and the control group; meanwhile, the control group exhibited a significant increase in heart rate following the administration of local anesthesia.Conclusion: Aromatherapy with rose oil seems to be safe and has a limited effect on anxiety and pain related to dental treatment in children