Motivational Interviewing to Improve Oral Hygiene in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients

Summary

This study is being conducted to explore how motivational interviewing (MI), A patient-centered counseling method, can help improve oral health awareness and practices in adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment. Adolescents often struggle to maintain good oral hygiene during orthodontic care, which can lead to complications such as gum disease, tooth decay, and poor treatment outcomes.

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.

Conditions

• Gingivitis
• DMFT Index
• Dental Plaque Index
• Oral Hygiene Education Methods
• Oral Hygiene Reinforcement During Fixed Orthodontic Treatment
• Motivational Interview, OHI

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

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.

BEHAVIORAL

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Alabama at Birmingham

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Yu Yin Lin, DDS · University of Alabama at Birmingham

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

14 Years

Max Age

19 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-10-28

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-07-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations