Effectiveness of smartphone reminder applications in enhancing oral hygiene compliance among pharmacy students in Nellore city: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-based oral health reminder application in improving oral hygiene compliance by reducing dental plaque among pharmacy students aged 18–25 years in Nellore city.  Dental plaque is a structured biofilm composed of microorganisms that adheres to tooth surfaces and is the primary etiological factor for common oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Inadequate plaque control leads to persistent inflammation and progression of periodontal disease.

A total of 60 participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: a control group receiving standard oral hygiene instructions and an intervention group receiving standard instructions along with the use of the Brush DJ smartphone application. Plaque accumulation will be assessed using the Plaque Index (Silness and Löe, 1964) at baseline and after a four-week intervention period. Ultrasonic scaling will be performed at baseline for all participants to standardize plaque levels prior to the intervention.

The primary outcome measure will be the reduction in plaque scores following the intervention. This study aims to determine whether a smartphone reminder application can serve as an effective adjunct to conventional oral hygiene education in improving plaque control among young adults.