Dataset Information

Effectiveness of a New App in Improving Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Patients: A Pilot Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of a mobile application (app) on the oral hygiene (OH) of adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

Methods

Eight volunteers (14-19 years old) were randomly allocated to the experimental or control groups. Volunteers in the control group received standard OH (SOH) instructions, whilst volunteers in the experimental group received SHO + OH guidance and motivation through an app tailor-made for this study. Clinical assessments were made using the visible plaque index (VPI) and gingival bleeding index (GBI) at 5 different time points: before orthodontic device installation (T0); at baseline (T1); and 30 (T2), 60 (T3), and 90 (T4) days after randomisation. Significant differences were evaluated using Student t test and multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Results

Although no significant difference could be observed, VPI at T1 and T2 were lower for volunteers in the experimental group (33.20 ± 19.29; 32.10 ± 7.72) than for the volunteers in the control group (42.11 ± 8.56; 43.59 ± 34.71). The same was observed for GBI, in which volunteers in the experimental group presented lower GBI at T1 and T2 (12.70 ± 8.10; 13.72 ± 7.39) than volunteers in the control group (27.53 ± 17.89; 20.38 ± 9.95). Good acceptance for using the app was shown by volunteers.

Conclusions

This study shows the potential utility of the mobile app for improving the OH of adolescents.

SUBMITTER: Lopes Dos Santos R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10213813 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Effectiveness of a New App in Improving Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Patients: A Pilot Study.

Lopes Dos Santos Raquel R Spinola Manuela da Silva MDS Carvalho Ellen E Lopes Dos Santos Denis Clay DC Dame-Teixeira Naile N Heller Debora D

International dental journal 20221001 3

<h4>Objectives</h4>The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of a mobile application (app) on the oral hygiene (OH) of adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.<h4>Methods</h4>Eight volunteers (14-19 years old) were randomly allocated to the experimental or control groups. Volunteers in the control group received standard OH (SOH) instructions, whilst volunteers in the experimental group received SHO + OH guidance and motivation through an app tailor-made fo ...[more]

PMID: 36192223

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Project description:AimsTo assess feasibility, acceptability, and early efficacy of monetary incentive-based interventions on fostering oral hygiene in young children measured with a Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush and smartphone application.DesignA stratified, parallel-group, three-arm individually randomized controlled pilot trial.SettingTwo Los Angeles area Early Head Start (EHS) sites.Participants36 parent-child dyads enrolled in an EHS home visit program for 0-3 year olds.InterventionsEligible dyads, within strata and permuted blocks, were randomized in equal allocation to one of three groups: waitlist (delayed monetary incentive) control group, fixed monetary incentive package, or lottery monetary incentive package. The intervention lasted 8 weeks.OutcomesPrimary outcomes were a) toothbrushing performance: mean number of Bluetooth-recorded half-day episodes per week when the child's teeth were brushed, and b) dental visit by the 2-month follow-up among children with no prior dental visit. The a priori milestone of 20% more frequent toothbrushing identified the intervention for a subsequent trial. Feasibility and acceptability measures were also assessed, including frequency of parents syncing the Bluetooth-enabled toothbrush to the smartphone application and plaque measurement from digital photographs.FindingsDigital monitoring of toothbrushing was feasible. Mean number of weekly toothbrushing episodes over 8 weeks was 3.9 in the control group, 4.1 in the fixed incentive group, and 6.0 in the lottery incentive group. The lottery group had 53% more frequent toothbrushing than the control group and 47% more frequent toothbrushing than the fixed group. Exploratory analyses showed effects concentrated among children ≤24 months. Follow-up dental visit attendance was similar across groups. iPhone 7 more reliably captured evaluable images than Photomed Cannon G16.ConclusionsTrial protocol and outcome measures were deemed feasible and acceptable. Results informed the study protocol for a fully powered trial of lottery incentives versus a delayed control using the smart toothbrush and remote digital incentive program administration.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03862443.

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Dataset Information

Effectiveness of a New App in Improving Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Patients: A Pilot Study.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Effectiveness of a New App in Improving Oral Hygiene in Orthodontic Patients: A Pilot Study.

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