Effectiveness of Two Health Education Interventions in the Prevention of Caries and Gingivitis in Orthodontic Patients

Dental caries and gingivitis are multifactorial diseases, however the only necessary factor, although insufficient for their development, is bacterial biofilm; brackets significantly increase its retention and limit self- cleaning mechanisms, representing a challenge in clinical practice. Motivational interventions in oral health could be an alternative to generate behavioral changes in oral health and daily self-care routines that are more sustainable over time compared to conventional education models in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. A randomized controlled clinical trial open to subjects and single-blinded (investigators) of parallel groups is proposed for the evaluation of the effect of motivational interviewing combined with conventional oral health education (OHEc) versus OHEc, in the prevention of dental caries lesions and gingivitis. A sample size of 94 patients in total is proposed, distributed 47 in each arm of the study, with a follow-up of the cohort for six months. The baseline risk will be established before the placement of fixed appliances (T0), and a follow-up will be carried out during six months, with assessments in one (T1), three(T2) and six months (T3) after cementation, where the presence of gingivitis, caries and changes in risk variables, adverse events and adherence to conventional and motivational interventions, will be measured.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients enrolled in the different orthodontic postgraduate clinics of the National University of Colombia who requires treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances
• 13 years old up to 28 years of age.
• Willingness to participate in the study and signature of the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with untreated caries lesions
• Patients with periodontal diseases or experience
• Previous orthodontics treatments
• Severe fluorosis or enamel abnormalities.
• Medical compromise or treatments generating hyposalivation or gingival enlargement
• Craniomaxillary anomalies
• Cognitive or motor disability
• Pregnancy.
• Dependence to alcohol, nicotine or psychoactive substances