Effects of Active Reminders and Motivational Techniques on Oral Hygiene and Gingival Health in Orthodontic Patients

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: White Spot Lesion; Oral Hygiene; Gingivitis

Treatments: Behavioral: Oral hygiene instructions

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03841825

HM20014910

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will compare the use of text message reminders versus multiple in-person sessions of oral hygiene instructions and motivation on improving oral hygiene measurements.

Full description

Orthodontic treatment (i.e. braces) makes it hard to keep good oral hygiene. The purpose of this research study is to compare the use of text message reminders versus multiple in-person sessions of oral hygiene instructions and motivation on improving oral hygiene measurements. Participation in this study will last up to 6 months and will consist of 4 study visits to the VCU Orthodontic clinic which are also regular visits for treatment. Measurements to assess participant's oral health will be taken during these visits. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups which may include receiving different types of text messages, repeated in-person oral hygiene instructions, or both, or neither.

Enrollment: 67 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 11 to 20 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 11-20 that have their own mobile device
2. Patients have cellular plan that allows them to receive text messages at no extra cost
3. Patients that will undergo treatment with full fixed appliances

Exclusion criteria

1. patients with significant medical or dental history, including patients with bleeding disorders that would require antibiotic prophylaxis
2. Pregnant women

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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67 participants in 4 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No messages or oral hygiene instructions

Text message reminders

Experimental group

Description:

Standardized text reminding patients to brush their teeth will be sent at 5:15 PM on Thursdays

Treatment:

Behavioral: Oral hygiene instructions

In-person oral hygiene instructions

Active Comparator group

Description:

Oral hygiene instructions and motivation during visit

Treatment:

Behavioral: Oral hygiene instructions

Text messages and in-person instructions

Experimental group

Description:

standardized text reminding patients to brush their teeth will be sent at 5:15 PM on Thursdays and oral hygiene instructions and motivation during visit

Treatment:

Behavioral: Oral hygiene instructions