The Effect of Using Mobile Applications for Improving Oral Hygiene

Overview

The study aims to investigate the effect of the use of mobile phone application sending reminders to patients with orthodontic fixed appliances on oral hygiene.

Full Title of Study: “The Effect of Using Mobile Applications for Improving Oral Hygiene in Patients With Orthodontic Fixed Appliances: A Randomized Controlled Trial”

Study Type

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Masking: Triple (Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Study Primary Completion Date: July 25, 2016

Detailed Description

Subjects were randomized into two groups, the first group received a mobile application that sends active reminders notifications of oral hygiene. The second group received verbal oral hygiene instructions during their regular visits to the orthodontics clinics.

Interventions

• Behavioral: Mobile phone application
• Behavioral: Verbal oral hygiene instructions

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Experimental: Mobile phone application
  • Subjects in this group received a mobile phone application that sends active reminder notifications of oral hygiene 3 times a day.
• Active Comparator: Verbal oral hygiene instructions
  • Subjects in this group received verbal oral hygiene instructions during their regular orthodontic visits every 4 weeks.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• Change in Plaque Index
  • Time Frame: At baseline and after 4 weeks.
  • Plaque index: 0, no plaque, 1, plaque seen on the tip of the explorer or with disclosing agent, 2. plaque seen with the naked eye, 3, abundance of plaque.
• Change in Gingival Index
  • Time Frame: At baseline and after 4 weeks.
  • Gingival index: 0, normal gingiva, 1, mild inflammation – slight change in color, slight edema and no bleeding on probing, 2, moderate inflammation – redness, edema and glazing and bleeding on probing, 3, severe inflammation – marked redness and edema, ulceration and tendency to spontaneous bleeding.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

1. Participants were having orthodontic fixed appliance treatment. 2. Participants were aged 12 years old and above, owned mobile phones and did not have mental or physical disabilities. 3. Participants were willing to comply with given oral hygiene instructions.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 12 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Principal Investigator: Omar Alkadhi, Lecturer – Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy
• Overall Official(s)
  • Omar H AlKadhi, BDS, MS, Principal Investigator, Riyadh Colleges of Dentistry and Pharmacy