Clinical Research Directory

Education-Based Oral Health Promotion Intervention During Pregnancy: Implementation Protocol in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, over 95% of pregnant women suffer from gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), yet oral health is rarely included in standard pregnancy check-ups. This study tests a new "Integrated Oral Health Promotion Package" to see if teaching oral hygiene during routine prenatal visits can improve the health of mothers. Pregnant women (ages 18-45) will be divided into two groups. The intervention group will receive two face-to-face education sessions with a dental assistant, learn a specific tooth-brushing technique, and receive weekly SMS text reminders to brush their teeth. The control group will receive the standard pregnancy care currently offered in Bangladesh. Researchers will track the participants for 12 weeks to see if the education and reminders lead to better brushing habits (twice-daily) and cleaner teeth and gums compared to the standard care group.

3D Volumetric Plaque Assessment on Teeth, Composite Restorations, and Ceramic Veneers Using an Intraoral Scanner

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate and compare a 3D intraoral scanner-based, computer-assisted approach for assessing dental biofilm/plaque accumulation on natural teeth and restorative surfaces with a conventional clinical plaque index (Turesky modified Quigley-Hein Plaque Index, TMQHPI) in systemically healthy adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How well does the plaque-covered surface measurement derived from 3D intraoral scanner data agree with TMQHPI scores after plaque disclosure? * How sensitively do the two methods detect changes in plaque levels after supervised toothbrushing? * Do plaque accumulation patterns differ between natural tooth surfaces and restorative materials (direct composite restorations and indirect ceramic veneers), and where are plaque-retentive areas most frequently located? Participants (≥18 years) will receive routine professional mechanical plaque removal as part of standard clinical care. They will then be asked to avoid mechanical and/or chemical plaque control for 4 days. At the follow-up visit, participants will undergo: 1. An intraoral scan and standardized photographs of the full dental arch, 2. Plaque disclosure followed by repeat scanning/photography and TMQHPI scoring by a periodontist, 3. Supervised toothbrushing using the modified Bass technique for 2 minutes, followed by a final scan and photographs. Digital models will be used to quantify plaque-covered surface measures and to generate 3D maps of plaque-retentive areas.

Assessing the Impact of a Social Media-Based Educational Intervention Using WhatsApp Video Messages on Dental Caries Prevention Knowledge, Oral Hygiene Practices, and Attitudes Toward Dental Health Among Primary School Children Aged 10-12 Years in Public Schools in Cairo Governorate, Egypt: A Quasi-

The goal of this study is to learn if educational videos sent through WhatsApp can improve dental health knowledge, healthy habits, and attitudes in primary school children aged 10 to 12 years in Cairo, Egypt. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do children who receive dental health videos through WhatsApp have better knowledge about caring for their teeth after 8 weeks compared to children who do not receive the videos? * Do children who watch the videos brush their teeth more often and correctly, and make healthier food choices? * Do children who watch the videos feel more positive about taking care of their teeth and visiting the dentist? Researchers will compare children in Grade 5 who receive 6 short dental health videos through WhatsApp (one video per week for 6 weeks) to children in Grade 6 who continue their normal school activities to see if the videos lead to better knowledge, healthy habits, and more positive attitudes about dental health. Participants will: * Answer questions about their dental health knowledge, tooth brushing and eating habits, and feelings about dental care at the start of the study (takes about 15 to 20 minutes in a private room at school) * Children in Grade 5 will join a WhatsApp group and receive one short video (2 to 5 minutes) each week for 6 weeks about topics like why teeth are important, how to brush teeth correctly, which foods are goo

Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Promoting Oral Health Among Children

The goal of this clinical study is to compare the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) and traditional patient education methods in improving oral hygiene (plaque score and bleeding score) among young children 8-10. It will also assess the demographic (age and sex) and socioeconomic indicators' effect on oral hygiene (plaque score and bleeding score) after intervention. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Is MI significantly more effective in improving oral health (plaque score, bleeding score) among children when compared to traditional patient education methods? * Are there specific demographic or contextual factors (e.g., age, socioeconomic status, baseline oral health status) that influence the effectiveness of MI in promoting oral health among children when compared to traditional patient education methods? Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups to receive oral hygiene instructions: verbal and written, video, and motivational interviewing. Have their oral hygiene assessed using the plaque index and bleeding index before the intervention and after a follow-up period of 1 month.

Improving Gum Health Among Older Adults Using AI Based mHealth for Personalized OHI

Background: Many older adults in Hong Kong lack thorough tooth cleaning and regular dental check-ups, which can lead to plaque-induced gum diseases and systemic health issues. A self-developed Mobile Health (mHealth) system, which utilizes smartphone photographs and artificial intelligence (AI), has been shown to accurately detect gum health. Personalized oral hygiene instruction (POHI) can then be provided based on the detected results. Objectives: 1. To improve gum health among non-institutionalized older adults using mHealth and POHI. 2. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of mHealth and POHI in improving gum health. Hypothesis: The personalized oral hygiene instruction (OHI) in addition to AI based mHealth provided by volunteer social workers can improve clinical effectiveness and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). Design and subjects: 88 older adults will be recruited from daycare centers, who will receive bi-weekly POHI based on their gum condition, detected by mHealth which is provided by trained volunteers. Two calibrated assessors will assess the participants' gum health, oral hygiene, caries, dental plaque, and structured questionnaire at baseline, after 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year Study Instruments: Gingival Index, Plaque Index, International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) code, dental plaque microbiology, and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) + Structured Questionnaire. Interventions: Personalized oral hygiene instruction using AI-powered mHealth provided by trained volunteers bi-weekly Main Outcomes: Gingival condition, Oral hygiene status, Dental plaque microbiology, and oral health-related quality of life. Data analysis: t-tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum test will compare pre- and post-intervention data. Expected Result: The use of mHealth and POHI provided by trained volunteers bi-weekly can lead to improved gum health among older adults.

Oral Care Layered Enhancement for Improved Oral Hygiene in Intensive Care Units

The goal of the ORACLE study is to evaluate the impact of implementing a standardized oral hygiene bundle on outcomes in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. The primary objective is to determine whether this bundle can increase the number of ventilator-free days compared to the standard of care.

AI-Generated WhatsApp Reminders vs. No Reminders: Impact on Oral Health in Young Adults

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of artificial intelligence-generated WhatsApp reminders on improving oral hygiene practices among individuals aged 20-40 years visiting the periodontal clinic at El-Qasr El-Ainy Dental Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive health education followed by AI-generated WhatsApp reminders over a 3-month period or to a control group receiving health education only. The primary outcome is the presence of white spot lesions, assessed using the modified Gorelick White Spot Lesion (WSL) index. Secondary outcomes include the presence of dental plaque, measured by the Plaque Index (PI). This study seeks to determine whether AI-generated reminders can enhance oral hygiene adherence compared to standard health education alone.