2016 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 31-38
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of aromatherapy in alleviating toothache associated with orthodontic treatment. Forty-eight patients (19 men and 29 women; mean age, 26 years 5 months) undergoing tooth separation of the mesiodistal left and right first molars of the upper jaw in orthodontic treatment were categorized by the method of minimization for allocation to clinical trials into three groups: the lavender, peppermint, and placebo (purified water) groups. The three groups received aromatherapy 48 h after the initiation of the tooth separation procedure. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess spontaneous pain at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after the initiation of tooth separation and 30 min and 1 h after beginning aromatherapy. Percussion pain was assessed with VAS 0 h and 48 h after the initiation of tooth separation and 30 min and 1 h after beginning aromatherapy. In addition, the amount of oxidized/reduced hemoglobin in the blood was observed during 1 h of aromatherapy by performing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Aromatherapy was preceded and followed by a survey of the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Assessment with VAS and NIRS showed a toothache-alleviating effect that lasted for the first 30 min in the lavender group; the peppermint group showed a longer and more intense effect than the lavender group. Comparison of the rate of change between the groups with analysis of variance did not show a significant difference. Assessment with POMS showed a decrease in all items after inhalation. These results suggest that aromatherapy inhalation has an effect on alleviating toothache during tooth separation.
