The Impact of Valerian and Chamomile on Children's Anxiety in the Dental Clinic

Dental anxiety in children is a common issue that can negatively affect oral health, behavior, and overall well-being. While various pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies exist to manage pediatric dental anxiety, there is still a need for approaches that are safe, accessible, and practical for routine clinical use. Herbal interventions, such as chamomile and valerian, have demonstrated anxiolytic and sedative effects in other medical settings, but their comparative effectiveness in reducing dental anxiety in children has not been fully studied.

This randomized controlled trial investigates the potential of these herbal extracts to reduce anxiety in children aged 6-10 years undergoing simple tooth extraction. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups, receiving either chamomile, valerian, or a placebo prior to treatment. Anxiety will be assessed using multiple complementary methods: a child-friendly self-report scale, an observer-rated behavior scale, and physiological measures including blood pressure and heart rate.

By combining these assessment tools, the study provides a comprehensive evaluation of both psychological and physiological aspects of dental anxiety. The findings will offer insights into whether these herbal extracts can reduce dental anxiety safely and effectively, guiding pediatric dentists in implementing natural interventions to improve children's dental experiences.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy children with no systemic or mental diseases.
• Children aged 6-10 years.
• Children with positive behavior according to the Frankl behavior rating scale.
• Children requiring a simple tooth extraction of upper primary molars under local anesthesia.

Exclusion criteria

• Children whose parents refused participation in the study.
• Children who were unwilling to ingest any of the herbal extracts.
• Children with a history of hypersensitivity to chamomile or valerian.
• Children who had taken any sedative, anxiolytic or analgesic medications within the last 8 hours prior to treatment.