Effectiveness of Different Media Approaches for Orthodontic Oral Hygiene Instruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Author(s): Umi Mardhiyyah Mat Ali, Asma Alhusna Abang Abdullah and Nurul Asyikin Yahya*
Abstract
Introduction: Treatments with fixed appliances require extra oral hygiene care, as its components will predispose to plaque retention. Orthodontists can prevent oral health problems such as caries and gingivitis by giving effective oral hygiene instructions to patients. Aim: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of the different media approaches on oral hygiene instructions on orthodontic patients over different time points. Materials and methods: Sixty patients who were undergoing fixed appliance treatment were randomised to receive video instruction, or written instructions accompanied by oral hygiene demonstration. The instructions were given for both groups after fitting patients' fixed appliances and reinforced them at one-month, three-month, and six-month follow-ups. Oral health assessment for both groups was recorded and repeated at the follow-ups. Results: There was an increase in plaque and gingivitis in both groups at one-month follow-up, but we have observed a decline at the three-month follow-up. The written media group shows a statistically significant difference in the presence or absence of plaque (p=0.023) and gingivitis (p=0.008) over the time-points. At the six-month follow-up, the written media group had a slightly higher plaque than the video media group. Overall, oral health assessment found no statistically significant difference between both groups at all-time points (p>0.05). Conclusion: Generally, video and written media approaches can effectively provide oral hygiene instructions to improve oral health. However, video media has more advantages than written media, and can be suggested to be preferable way in delivering oral hygiene instruction to orthodontic patients and reinforcement during monthly follow-up in the clinic.