A Systematic Review of the Effect of Aromatherapy and Storytelling on Anxiety in Children during Dentistry

Background There is limited study and a lack of systematic review in the field of aromatherapy with orange, and storytelling and their positive effects as a safe, simple and low-cost. The present study is aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the alleviating effects of aromatherapy with orange and therapeutic storytelling on anxiety during dentistry. Systemic search of online databases (Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE and Scopus), for randomized control trial and non-randomized prospective or retrospective clinical studies without time and language limitation, using related keyword combinations were searched up to Mar 2019. Two reviewers did study selection and the evaluation of studies was conducted by Jadad scale. Finally,three studies were included in a systematic review. In the first study, salivary cortisol and pulse rate improved significantly in both aromatherapies with and without orange aroma. In the second study, there was no significant difference in the mean of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pulse rate between groups (orange essential oil and without aroma) of children during dental treatment; anxiety level was assessed with Venham’s picture scale. Comparison between groups regarding Venham’s picture test was significant. In the third study, there was significant decrease of anxiety, pain and anger in the storytelling psychotherapy group compared with, the placebo and control groups of children receiving treatment by the dentist. Conclusion Both methods, orange odor and storytelling, were effectiveness in decreasing the anxiety level of children receiving dental treatment.