A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of personalised oral hygiene advice delivered via video technology

Objectives
To determine whether video-technology oral hygiene advice (OHA) improved clinical plaque and bleeding on probing (BOP) scores in individuals diagnosed with gingivitis, compared to conventional OHA after 3-months.

Methods
This parallel, randomised 2-arm treatment, single-centre study, assessed Turesky Plaque Index (TPI) and BOP at baseline and 3-months in adult participants with mild-moderate gingivitis. Eligible participants with smartphones were randomised at baseline to intervention (tailored video OHA), or control (conventional OHA). Oral hygiene (OH) habits/attitudes were recorded with a questionnaire. All participants used a manual toothbrush with anti-gingivitis toothpaste twice daily.

Results
57 participants completed the study. Both groups had improved gingival health (BOP) after 3-months, change from baseline being significantly greater in the intervention group (12.21% vs 6.80%, p<0.05). TPI scores decreased more in the intervention than control group, but the difference did not reach significance (1.15 vs 0.92, p=0.079). OH habits and attitudes were similar at baseline and few differences between the groups were observed after 3-months, however frequency of interdental brush use was significantly increased, while self-rated oral health was significantly decreased in the intervention as compared to control group at this timepoint (p<0.05).

Conclusions
The combination of an individually tailored instructional video with appropriate toothbrushing using anti-gingivitis toothpaste and interdental brush, significantly improved participants’ gingival health over 3-months compared to brushing with an anti-gingivitis toothpaste with conventional OHA as delivered in the general dental services. This study demonstrates the benefit of changing OH behaviour and delivering OHA using an individually tailored approach with contemporary methodology.

Clinical Significance
OHA is usually verbally delivered over short time periods. This study demonstrates video technology with individualised OHA improves OH adherence and empowers individuals, the recipient receiving personal visual cues with ability to replay advice and technique reiteration. This real-world technology could be better utilised in general dental practice.