Comparative Evaluation of Acupressure, Aromatherapy, and Stress Ball Efficacy in Reduction of Anxiety Levels in Children during Prophylactic and Restorative Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Dental anxiety among pediatric patients needs to be tackled efficiently. Various nonpharmacological interventions, though proven effective, cannot be generalized for all. The use of complementary and alternative medicine has surged globally and is effective in reducing anxiety associated with dental procedures. AIM: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of acupressure, aromatherapy, and stress ball for reduction of dental anxiety in children during prophylactic and restorative procedures. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Randomized controlled clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 160 children aged 8-12 years requiring scaling or restoration on the first visit. The children were randomly allocated to four groups: group I (n = 40)-control, group II (n = 40)-acupressure, group III (n = 40)-aromatherapy, and group IV (n = 40)-stress ball. For all the children, a self-report measure of anxiety [Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) and Chota Bheem-Chutki Scale (CBCS)], along with pulse rate, SpO2, and respiratory rate, were recorded at three different time frames. The Frankl scale was used as the behavioral measure for all the children. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Student's t-test and ANOVA test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Aromatherapy showed significant results in all the six parameters used. The MCDAS scores of groups II, III, and IV showed significant mean differences when compared to the control group (p = 0.000). In the Frankl behavior rating scale and SpO2 readings, differences in the aromatherapy and acupressure groups were found statistically significant in comparison with other groups (p = 0.000 and 0.005). Aromatherapy was found statistically significant compared to other groups in parameters like the CBCS and pulse rate. All the three groups showed significant results in the respiratory rate interval. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy was highly effective in reducing anxiety compared to the acupressure and stress ball groups during prophylactic and restorative procedures in children. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Koyande AP, Pathivada L, Krishna KM, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Acupressure, Aromatherapy, and Stress Ball Efficacy in Reduction of Anxiety Levels in Children during Prophylactic and Restorative Procedures. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(2):210-214.