Dental Anxiety in ChildrenNCT07542665
Aromatherapy vs Music Therapy for Anxiety in Children During Dental Radiography
A study testing Music Therapy, Aromatherapy and Routine Care in people with Dental Anxiety in Children and Pediatric Anxiety, run by Nigde Omer Halisdemir University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on anxiety levels in children undergoing intraoral radiographic examination for the first time. Dental anxiety is a common problem in pediatric patients and can negatively impact cooperation and treatment outcomes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Pediatric Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- Music Therapy, Aromatherapy and Routine Care
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 108 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Apr 2026to 15 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Children requiring panoramic radiography for dental examination
- No previous history of dental radiographic procedures
- Ability to understand and cooperate with the procedure
- Provision of written informed consent by parents or legal guardians
Who cannot join
- Presence of hearing or olfactory impairment
- Use of medications that may affect anxiety levels or heart rate
- Presence of systemic or neurological disorders
- Inability to cooperate with the study procedures
- Refusal of the child or parent/guardian to participate
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Faculty of Dentistry
Niğde, 51100
About this study
Official title: Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Aromatherapy and Music Therapy on Anxiety in Children Undergoing Oral Radiological Examination for the First Time
This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on anxiety levels in children undergoing intraoral radiographic examination for the first time. Dental anxiety is a common problem in pediatric patients and can negatively impact cooperation and treatment outcomes.
Children included in the study will be randomly assigned to four groups: aromatherapy and music group, aromatherapy group, music therapy group, or control group. In the aromatherapy group, children will be exposed to a selected essential oil (lavender oil) before the radiographic procedure, while in the music therapy group, children will listen to calming music through a speaker. The group receiving both aromatherapy and music therapy will listen to music while being exposed to the essential oil. The control group will receive standard care without any additional intervention.
Read more
Anxiety levels will be assessed before and after the radiographic procedure using the Facial Imaging Scale (FIS). Simultaneously, pulse rate will be measured before and after the procedure using a finger pulse oximeter. The primary aim is to determine whether aromatherapy, music therapy, or a combination of both is more effective in reducing anxiety compared to the control group.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective methods to improve the comfort and cooperation of pediatric patients during dental radiographic procedures.
- Conditions
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Pediatric Anxiety
- Being tested
- Music Therapy, Aromatherapy, Routine Care
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Music therapy, Panoramic radiography, Dental anxiety, Pediatric dentistry
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Music TherapyBehavioural
Children were exposed to music therapy prior to panoramic radiography. Pachelbel's Canon in D major was played in the clinical environment at a comfortable volume to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
AromatherapyBehavioural
Lavender essential oil was diffused into the clinical environment prior to panoramic radiography using an aroma diffuser to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
Routine CareOther
Children received standard clinical care without any additional intervention prior to panoramic radiography.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapy (MG) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Music Therapy |
| Aromatherapy (AG) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Aromatherapy |
| Music Therapy + Aromatherapy (MAG) | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Music Therapy; Behavioral: Aromatherapy |
| Control Group (CG) | Other | Not described Receives: Other: Routine Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Anxiety level assessed by Facial Image Scale (FIS)
Children's anxiety levels were assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), a validated tool for measuring dental anxiety in pediatric patients. It consists of a series of five pictures of faces (from 1 to 5), ranging from very happy to very unhappy. The scale is scored with a score of 1 for the face with the most positive emotion and a score of 5 for the face with the most negative emotion. Scores obtained before and after the radiographic procedure were compared.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography
Secondary outcomes (2)
Heart rate
Heart rate was recorded as a physiological indicator of anxiety before and after the radiographic procedure.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography
Presence artifacts in panoramic radiographs
Panoramic radiographs were evaluated by an experienced radiologist for the presence of artifacts affecting image quality.
Measured: Immediately after panoramic radiography
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Apr 2026
- Study start20 Apr 2026
- Primary completion30 Aug 2026
- Study completion15 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Dental Anxiety in ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to four parallel groups: aromatherapy and music therapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, and a control group. Each group will receive a different intervention prior to intraoral radiographic procedures, and the results will be compared between the groups.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 108 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07542665
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NigdeOHU-AromatherapyMusic
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Evaluation of the Effects of Aromatherapy and Music Therapy on Anxiety in Children Undergoing Oral Radiological Examination for the First Time
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07542665
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NigdeOHU-AromatherapyMusic
- Conditions
- Dental Anxiety in Children, Pediatric Anxiety
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Music therapy, Panoramic radiography, Dental anxiety, Pediatric dentistry
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 108 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Nigde Omer Halisdemir UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of aromatherapy and music therapy on anxiety levels in children undergoing intraoral radiographic examination for the first time. Dental anxiety is a common problem in pediatric patients and can negatively impact cooperation and treatment outcomes.
Children included in the study will be randomly assigned to four groups: aromatherapy and music group, aromatherapy group, music therapy group, or control group. In the aromatherapy group, children will be exposed to a selected essential oil (lavender oil) before the radiographic procedure, while in the music therapy group, children will listen to calming music through a speaker. The group receiving both aromatherapy and music therapy will listen to music while being exposed to the essential oil. The control group will receive standard care without any additional intervention.
Anxiety levels will be assessed before and after the radiographic procedure using the Facial Imaging Scale (FIS). Simultaneously, pulse rate will be measured before and after the procedure using a finger pulse oximeter. The primary aim is to determine whether aromatherapy, music therapy, or a combination of both is more effective in reducing anxiety compared to the control group.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective methods to improve the comfort and cooperation of pediatric patients during dental radiographic procedures.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to four parallel groups: aromatherapy and music therapy, aromatherapy, music therapy, and a control group. Each group will receive a different intervention prior to intraoral radiographic procedures, and the results will be compared between the groups.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapy (MG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Music Therapy |
| Aromatherapy (AG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Aromatherapy |
| Music Therapy + Aromatherapy (MAG) | Experimental | Behavioral: Music Therapy, Behavioral: Aromatherapy |
| Control Group (CG) | Other | Other: Routine Care |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children requiring panoramic radiography for dental examination
- No previous history of dental radiographic procedures
- Ability to understand and cooperate with the procedure
- Provision of written informed consent by parents or legal guardians
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Presence of hearing or olfactory impairment
- Use of medications that may affect anxiety levels or heart rate
- Presence of systemic or neurological disorders
- Inability to cooperate with the study procedures
- Refusal of the child or parent/guardian to participate
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Music TherapyChildren were exposed to music therapy prior to panoramic radiography. Pachelbel's Canon in D major was played in the clinical environment at a comfortable volume to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. | Behavioural | Music Therapy (MG), Music Therapy + Aromatherapy (MAG) |
| AromatherapyLavender essential oil was diffused into the clinical environment prior to panoramic radiography using an aroma diffuser to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. | Behavioural | Aromatherapy (AG), Music Therapy + Aromatherapy (MAG) |
| Routine CareChildren received standard clinical care without any additional intervention prior to panoramic radiography. | Other | Control Group (CG) |
Primary outcome
Anxiety level assessed by Facial Image Scale (FIS)
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography
Children's anxiety levels were assessed using the Facial Image Scale (FIS), a validated tool for measuring dental anxiety in pediatric patients. It consists of a series of five pictures of faces (from 1 to 5), ranging from very happy to very unhappy. The scale is scored with a score of 1 for the face with the most positive emotion and a score of 5 for the face with the most negative emotion. Scores obtained before and after the radiographic procedure were compared.
2 secondary outcomes
Heart rate
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography
Presence artifacts in panoramic radiographs
Time frame: Immediately after panoramic radiography
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Oct 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Music Therapy, Aromatherapy and Routine Care in people with Dental Anxiety in Children and Pediatric Anxiety, run by Nigde Omer Halisdemir University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Anxiety level assessed by Facial Image Scale (FIS) (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after panoramic radiography). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Oct 2026.