Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety Levels of Dental Patients Attending Outpatient Department – A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Dental anxiety is a common psychological challenge in dentistry, often interfering with treatment compliance and patient outcomes. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches, such as aromatherapy, are increasingly explored as safe, nonpharmacological methods to alleviate anxiety. This study evaluated the effectiveness of lavender and chamomile oil aromatherapy in reducing dental anxiety among outpatients. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 90 outpatients selected through simple random sampling. Participants were allocated into three groups: lavender aromatherapy, chamomile aromatherapy, and placebo. Subjective anxiety was assessed using the validated modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS), whereas physiological measures included heart rate and blood pressure, recorded before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 25), applying the Chi-square test, paired t -test, and ANOVA. Results: Both lavender and chamomile groups demonstrated a significant reduction in questionnaire-based anxiety scores compared to placebo ( P < 0.05). Heart rate changes followed a similar trend but were not statistically significant. For blood pressure, lavender oil showed a mean reduction of 6.36 mmHg, and chamomile oil showed a smaller reduction of 0.46 mmHg; however, these changes were not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). The placebo group showed no meaningful change. Conclusion: Aromatherapy with lavender and chamomile oils appears effective in reducing dental anxiety at a subjective level, although physiological changes in blood pressure and heart rate were inconsistent and of limited clinical importance. Larger trials with standardized protocols are warranted to confirm feasibility in dental practice.