Written by Cristina Proano-Carrion Tuesday, 15 September 2009 13:55

Do you get the heebie-jeebies when you enter a dentist’s office? If you do, you are not alone. Most people are faced with anxiety and nervousness at the thought of gloved hands and metal instruments prying into their mouths; this is especially true for children.

Is there an easy way to combat dental phobia? Luckily for us, there is. What’s more, it’s as simple as a sniff! A study presented by the British Psychology Society suggests that inhaling the scent of lavender essential oil can help calm any feelings of anxiety and stress in patients before they make it to the dreaded chair. In the study, patients who were made to sniff lavender essential oil before entering the clinic showed a marked decline in stress levels and anxiety as compared to those who hadn’t.

Modern dentists are quick to catch up on the convenience of this method and are increasingly using essential oils in their offices to help their patients stay calm and positive. Not only Lavender, other essential oils too can be used to serve different purposes in a dental setting. A prestigious dentist in Atlanta, a loyal client of Aromandina, has taken the use of aromatherapy to another level by using essential oils at her dental practice:

• SERENO SLEEP TIME, a blend of Lavender, Mandarin, Marjoram and Palo Santo to help patients stay calm, relaxed and stress-free during treatments.
• EXULTO ALEGRIA, containing euphoric ingredients such as Clary Sage, Litsea Cubeba, Ylang Ylang to keep people in the waiting room feeling upbeat, positive and happy.
• VIGOR ENERGIA, with elements of Pine, Rosemary, and Litsea Cubeba to help doctors and the staff stay energized, focused and active.

When patients walk into the clinic relaxed and with a positive mindset, they naturally benefit more from the treatment. It also facilitates the communication between the doctor and the patient so they can understand each other better. Thus, essential oils can help dental practitioners and patients in more ways than one.

With essential oils to back you up, a visit to the dentist will never be the same again!