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| Title |
iPhone Applications Can Increase Oral Hygiene Compliance in Adolescents |
| Clinical Question |
In adolescents, does the use of an oral hygiene app increase oral hygiene compliance?
|
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Adolescents oral hygiene improves with iphone application use that requires posting of selfies, instructional videos and competitions amongst peers. |
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 25799001 | Zotti/2016 | 80 adolescents in fixed orthodontic appliances | Randomized Controlled Trial | | Key results | 80 participants total. Mean age of control group (CG) was 13.6 years and study group (SG) was 14.1 years. At 6, 9 and 12 months, SG was significantly better than the CG for plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI). At 9 and 12 months SG was significantly better than CG for white spot lesions. No difference was observed between the groups for caries at any time point. The SG patients were participants in a WhatsApp group and data was collected every 3 months for 1 year. | | #2) 26315196 | Underwood/2015 | 189 Adolescents | Cross-sectional qualitative user perception questionnaire | | Key results | 189 people using the Brush DJ oral health app responded to survey, of which 72% were female and 37% were between the ages of 7-12. This being a qualitative study, one theme that was analyzed was motivation. 70% of respondents felt their teeth were cleaner. 39% felt their gums bled less. 88% of participants reported that the app made them brush their teeth for longer. | |
| Evidence Search |
"oral hygiene compliance adolescents" |
Comments on
The Evidence |
In Zotti/2016 the randomization of the patients to the study group or the control group reduces boas in this study. The clinical examiner was also blinded to group assignment. However, Underwood/2015 is a questionnaire, which can be riddled with bias, hence limiting the validity of this study. Problems included unknown response rate and possible recall bias. |
| Applicability |
An oral hygiene iPhone application merits recommendation to patients. It is cost effective, easy to use and the benefits far outweigh any harm. Today's technology-obsessed adolescents will show more interest in oral hygiene compliance if there is a selfie that needs to be posted. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (General Dentistry) (Orthodontics) |
| Keywords |
App, Oral Hygiene, Adolescents, Compliance, social media
|
| ID# |
3258 |
| Date of submission: |
08/04/2017 |
| E-mail |
SinghR4@livemail.uthscsa.edu; radha11vivek@hotmail.com |
| Author |
Radhika Singh |
| Co-author(s) |
|
| Co-author(s) e-mail |
|
| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Melanie Taverna, RDH |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
taverna@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
|
Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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