Motivational Interviewing to Improve Oral Hygiene in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients
NCT ID: NCT07164989
Last Updated: 2025-12-16
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
NA
50 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-10-28
2026-07-31
Brief Summary
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Participants in this study will receive brief, structured conversations focused on encouraging them to set goals and take responsibility for their oral health. These interviews are designed to be non-judgmental and supportive, helping the participants explore their own motivations for keeping their teeth and gums healthy during braces treatment.
The study will take place at a pediatric dentistry clinic and will involve adolescents aged approximately 14 to 19 who are receiving orthodontic care. The goal is to assess whether this type of communication improves their oral hygiene behaviors and outcomes compared to standard oral health education. Findings from this research may help pediatric dentists and orthodontists improve how they engage adolescent patients in taking care of their oral health.
Detailed Description
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Motivational interviewing is a well-established, evidence-based counseling approach that focuses on enhancing an individual's intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. It has shown promise in areas such as smoking cessation, weight management, and medication adherence, but its application in oral health-especially among adolescents-remains underutilized.
This randomized controlled trial will enroll adolescent patients between the ages of 14 and 19 who are currently undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (receiving MI-based counseling sessions at routine orthodontic appointments) or the control group (receiving standard oral health education). The MI sessions will be brief (approximately 15-20 minutes), conducted by trained pediatric dental professionals, using a structured MI script and checklist based on established MI protocols.
The study will evaluate oral health behaviors through self-reported questionnaires and objective clinical measures, including plaque index, gingival index, and oral hygiene compliance as recorded in follow-up appointments. Secondary outcomes will include participant satisfaction, perceived autonomy in health decisions, and parental involvement in oral care.
Ethical safeguards include patient consent, parental consent, and measures to protect participant confidentiality. Given the low-risk, behavioral nature of the intervention, the study does not require a Data Monitoring Committee. All data will be monitored by the Principal Investigator and reviewed periodically by the study team to ensure fidelity and safety.
The findings from this study are expected to provide valuable insights into how motivational interviewing can be implemented effectively in clinical dental settings to improve adolescent engagement and long-term oral health outcomes.
Conditions
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
PREVENTION
NONE
Study Groups
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Motivational Interviewing Group
Motivational Interviewing (MI) will be conducted as the primary behavioral intervention in the study group. MI is a collaborative, patient-centered communication technique designed to enhance a patient's intrinsic motivation to adopt healthier behaviors. It involves five core processes: engaging, focusing, evoking, planning, and reviewing. These sessions aim to help patients identify their own goals and motivations related to oral hygiene and to foster a sense of autonomy and accountability.
In this study, MI sessions will be delivered by a single trained dental professional who has previous formal training and experience conducting MI as part of earlier research. To maintain quality and consistency, a structured MI script and checklist based on established MI protocols will be used for each session. Sessions will take place at three different time points throughout the study period.
Motivational Interviewing-Based Counseling
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a structured, patient-centered counseling technique that helps individuals explore and resolve ambivalence toward behavior change. In this study, MI sessions will be delivered by trained pediatric dental professionals during routine orthodontic visits. Each session will last approximately 10-15 minutes and will be guided by a standardized MI protocol, focusing on improving oral hygiene behavior and increasing personal motivation and responsibility for oral care among adolescent participants. Sessions will be conducted at multiple time points during the course of treatment.
Standard Oral Health Education Group
Participants in this group will receive the conventional oral hygiene education typically provided in orthodontic clinics. This includes verbal instructions and printed educational materials on topics such as toothbrushing technique, flossing with braces, and the importance of maintaining oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. Education will be delivered by pediatric dental staff during scheduled orthodontic appointments at the same time points as the intervention group (baseline, 1-month, and 6-month visits). No motivational interviewing techniques will be used. This approach reflects routine care and serves as the comparator for evaluating the added value of MI.
Standard Oral Health Education
Participants in this group will receive the conventional oral hygiene education typically provided in orthodontic clinics. This includes verbal instructions and printed educational materials on topics such as toothbrushing technique, flossing with braces, and the importance of maintaining oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. Education will be delivered by pediatric dental staff during scheduled orthodontic appointments at the same time points as the intervention group (baseline, 1-month, and 6-month visits). No motivational interviewing techniques will be used. This approach reflects routine care and serves as the comparator for evaluating the added value of MI.
Interventions
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Motivational Interviewing-Based Counseling
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a structured, patient-centered counseling technique that helps individuals explore and resolve ambivalence toward behavior change. In this study, MI sessions will be delivered by trained pediatric dental professionals during routine orthodontic visits. Each session will last approximately 10-15 minutes and will be guided by a standardized MI protocol, focusing on improving oral hygiene behavior and increasing personal motivation and responsibility for oral care among adolescent participants. Sessions will be conducted at multiple time points during the course of treatment.
Standard Oral Health Education
Participants in this group will receive the conventional oral hygiene education typically provided in orthodontic clinics. This includes verbal instructions and printed educational materials on topics such as toothbrushing technique, flossing with braces, and the importance of maintaining oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. Education will be delivered by pediatric dental staff during scheduled orthodontic appointments at the same time points as the intervention group (baseline, 1-month, and 6-month visits). No motivational interviewing techniques will be used. This approach reflects routine care and serves as the comparator for evaluating the added value of MI.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Currently undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment with active appliances in the mouth
* Available for three study encounters over a 6-month period
* Able to read, understand, and communicate in English without the use of a translator
* Able to provide consent, and whose parent/guardian also agrees to provide consent
Exclusion Criteria
* Patients who are expected to complete orthodontic treatment or have appliances removed within 6 months
* Individuals requiring interpreter services for participation
* Individuals unable or unwilling to provide consent (or whose guardians cannot provide consent)
* Currently enrolled in another behavioral or oral health intervention study.
* Any condition deemed by the investigators to make the participant ineligible for safe and effective participation.
14 Years
19 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Yu-Yin Lin
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigators
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Yu Yin Lin, DDS
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Locations
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UAB School of Dentistry/ Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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UAB School of Dentistry/ Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Role: primary
Role: backup
References
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Rigau-Gay MM, Claver-Garrido E, Benet M, Lusilla-Palacios P, Ustrell-Torrent JM. Effectiveness of motivational interviewing to improve oral hygiene in orthodontic patients: A randomized controlled trial. J Health Psychol. 2020 Nov-Dec;25(13-14):2362-2373. doi: 10.1177/1359105318793719. Epub 2018 Sep 10.
Cascaes AM, Bielemann RM, Clark VL, Barros AJ. Effectiveness of motivational interviewing at improving oral health: a systematic review. Rev Saude Publica. 2014 Feb;48(1):142-53. doi: 10.1590/s0034-8910.2014048004616.
Study Documents
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Document Type: "Educational resource supporting the study's behavioral intervention strategy using motivational interviewing in dental settings."
Publicly available educational resource supporting the behavioral component of the study.
View DocumentRelated Links
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Motivational interviewing workbook for dental professionals, provides guidance for behavior change strategies in oral health care.
Other Identifiers
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UAB
Identifier Type: OTHER
Identifier Source: secondary_id
300014350
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id