The scent of lavender can reduce the level of anxiety in dental patients waiting for a scheduled dental appointment, according to a new British study (Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, February 2010, Vol. 38:1, pp. 83-87).
Researchers from King's College London conducted a randomized controlled trial in a private dental practice in Athens, Greece. The anxiety level of 340 patients (170 in the control group, 170 in the lavender group) was assessed while awaiting a scheduled dental appointment. A candle warmer, candle, plain water, and lavender oil were used. The candle warmer had a lower compartment with an aroma-free candle and an upper compartment containing water, either with or without lavender oil.
Dental anxiety was measured using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. The lavender group reported significantly lower anxiety than the control group, the researchers found.
"Lavender is an effective means of reducing current state anxiety, but has no effect on future anxiety-provoking thoughts. In this sense, lavender should be perceived as a means of 'on-the-spot' reduction of anxiety and not as an anxiety treatment," the authors concluded.
