Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Reminder Applications in Improving Oral Hygiene Compliance of Orthodontic Patients

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Oral Hygiene

• Registration Number: NCT06811688
• Lead Sponsor: Umm Al-Qura University

Brief Summary

The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was to investigate the effectiveness of mobile application as an active reminder for improving oral hygiene compliance of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment using fixed orthodontic appliances.

Detailed Description

eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either control or intervention group. Group l (control): Only verbal instructions on oral hygiene including brushing using soft bristles, brushing for 2 minutes, flossing once daily, the use of fluoridated oral rinse, orthodontic appliance care and avoiding hard and sticky food.These instructions were given at the baseline visit. Then, these subjects were re-examined after 4 weeks. Group II (intervention): the subjects received the same oral hygiene instructions that were described to the control group with the addition of downloading two mobile applications: Brushout app and Brush teeth reminder app. These applications were adjusted to send notifications twice daily in the morning and night as reminders to practice oral hygiene. In addition, oral hygiene practice was tracked by a link that was sent electronically and checked by study researchers as a compliance protocol. Like the control group, subjects were re-examined after 4 weeks.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-02-14
• Primary Completion: 2023-07-31
• Study Completion: 2023-07-31
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-23
• Status Verified: 2025-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-05
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• 1- Subjects having orthodontic treatment using fixed appliances

2- The use of a smartphone to download Brushout app and Brush teeth reminder app

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects having orthodontic treatment using removable appliances

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Plaque Index	At baseline and 4 weeks	As described by Silness-Löe plaque index, Six teeth (#16, #12, #24, #36, #32, #44) were used to evaluate the plaque present in each surface including facial, lingual, mesial and distal surface. The thickness of the plaque was measured as follows: 0: absence of microbial plaque, 1: thin film of microbial plaque along the free gingival margin, 2: moderate accumulation with plaque in sulcus, 3: large amount of plaque in sulcus or pocket along the free gingival margin.
Gingival index	At baseline and 4 weeks	Gingival index was used to evaluate the gingival condition in each surface including facial, lingual, mesial and distal. The following scores were used: 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 and tendency to spontaneous bleeding, ulceration.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Umm Al-Qura University, Dental Teaching Hospital; 🇸🇦 Mecca, Saudi Arabia