Aromatherapy vs Music Therapy for Anxiety in Children During Dental Radiography

NCT07542665 — Not applicable, Completed, 108 participants, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University

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Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Aromatherapy and Music Therapy on Anxiety in Children Undergoing Oral Radiological Examination for the First Time

Registry	NCT07542665
Status	Completed
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: triple, other
Enrollment	108 (Actual)
Sponsor	Nigde Omer Halisdemir University (Other)
Conditions	Dental Anxiety in Children, Pediatric Anxiety
Interventions	Music Therapy, Aromatherapy, Routine Care (Behavioral, other)
Dates	start 2026-04-20, primary completion 2026-08-30, completion 2026-09-15, first posted 2026-04-21, last updated 2026-10-13
Locations	1 site in Turkey (Türkiye)

-Summary

This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on anxiety levels in children undergoing intraoral radiographic examination for the first time. Dental anxiety is a common problem in pediatric patients and can negatively impact cooperation and treatment outcomes.

Children included in the study will be randomly assigned to four groups: aromatherapy and music group, aromatherapy group, music therapy group, or control group. In the aromatherapy group, children will be exposed to a selected essential oil (lavender oil) before the radiographic procedure, while in the music therapy group, children will listen to calming music through a speaker. The group receiving both aromatherapy and music therapy will listen to music while being exposed to the essential oil. The control group will receive standard care without any additional intervention.

Anxiety levels will be assessed before and after the radiographic procedure using the Facial Imaging Scale (FIS). Simultaneously, pulse rate will be measured before and after the procedure using a finger pulse oximeter. The primary aim is to determine whether aromatherapy, music therapy, or a combination of both is more effective in reducing anxiety compared to the control group.

The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective methods to improve the comfort and cooperation of pediatric patients during dental radiographic procedures.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions
Music Therapy (MG)	Experimental	Behavioral: Music Therapy
Aromatherapy (AG)	Experimental	Behavioral: Aromatherapy
Music Therapy + Aromatherapy (MAG)	Experimental	Behavioral: Music Therapy; Behavioral: Aromatherapy
Control Group (CG)	Other	Other: Routine Care

Music Therapy (Behavioral): Children were exposed to music therapy prior to panoramic radiography. Pachelbel's Canon in D major was played in the clinical environment at a comfortable volume to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
Aromatherapy (Behavioral): Lavender essential oil was diffused into the clinical environment prior to panoramic radiography using an aroma diffuser to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Routine Care (Other): Children received standard clinical care without any additional intervention prior to panoramic radiography.

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Anxiety level assessed by Facial Image Scale (FIS) [Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography]: Children's anxiety levels were assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), a validated tool for measuring dental anxiety in pediatric patients. It consists of a series of five pictures of faces (from 1 to 5), ranging from very happy to very unhappy. The scale is scored with a score of 1 for the face with the most positive emotion and a score of 5 for the face with the most negative emotion. Scores obtained before and after the radiographic procedure were compared.

Secondary outcomes

Heart rate [Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography]: Heart rate was recorded as a physiological indicator of anxiety before and after the radiographic procedure.
Presence artifacts in panoramic radiographs [Immediately after panoramic radiography]: Panoramic radiographs were evaluated by an experienced radiologist for the presence of artifacts affecting image quality.

+Eligibility

Sex: All, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children requiring panoramic radiography for dental examination
2. No previous history of dental radiographic procedures
3. Ability to understand and cooperate with the procedure
4. Provision of written informed consent by parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of hearing or olfactory impairment
2. Use of medications that may affect anxiety levels or heart rate
3. Presence of systemic or neurological disorders
4. Inability to cooperate with the study procedures
5. Refusal of the child or parent/guardian to participate

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Faculty of Dentistry	Niğde	Turkey (Türkiye)