Effect of Aromatherapy and Music Therapy on Physiological Response and Pain During Mandibular Third Molar Extraction

Dental anxiety is common among patients undergoing oral surgical procedures and may be associated with physiological responses that can negatively affect the patient's treatment experience. Mandibular third molar extraction is one of the most frequently performed oral surgical procedures and is often associated with moderate to severe levels of dental anxiety.

Aromatherapy and music therapy have been proposed as non-pharmacological interventions that may improve physiological responses and reduce pain during dental procedures because of their low cost, ease of implementation, and minimal risk. However, evidence comparing the effectiveness of these interventions during mandibular third molar extraction remains limited.

This clinical trial was conducted in a public hospital and included adult patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety who underwent mandibular third molar extraction. Eligibility was determined using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS), which was administered before surgery. Participants were allocated to an aromatherapy group, a music therapy group, or a control group using a non-randomized allocation method. Group distribution was balanced according to sex. Physiological parameters, including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, were recorded before and after surgery. Intraoperative pain was also evaluated using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS).

Clinical characteristics considered in the study included age, sex, abdominal obesity, surgical duration, and mandibular third molar position according to Winter's classification (vertical, mesioangular, and horizontal).

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on physiological responses and intraoperative pain during mandibular third molar extraction and to provide evidence regarding the usefulness of these non-pharmacological interventions in clinical practice.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 18-38 years.
• Scheduled for mandibular third molar extraction.
• ASA I or ASA II patients.
• Moderate to severe dental anxiety according to MDAS.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or psychiatric disorders.
• Use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, sedatives, or anxiolytics.
• Pregnancy.
• Cognitive, visual, hearing, or language impairment interfering with questionnaire completion.
• Use of sedatives or anxiolytics within 12 hours before surgery.