Essential Oils in Dentistry: Therapeutic Potential and Emerging Clinical Applications

The escalating costs, side effects, and rising antimicrobial resistance associated with conventional dental therapies have intensified the search for plant-derived therapeutic agents. While there is a significant surge in academic research interest regarding the pharmacological potential of essential oils (EOs), their widespread integration into routine clinical dental practice remains an evolving process. For this reason, many traditional medicines are being reevaluated to determine their efficacy and safety profiles. This narrative review evaluates the current literature on EOs, focusing on their therapeutic potential and dental applications while distinguishing between promising laboratory findings and the current status of their practical adoption in dentistry. The review highlights that EOs may serve as adjunctive agents in protecting and maintaining oral health, provided that their clinical use is further standardized.