# The Effectiveness of Hands-On Practice Combined with Multimedia Education in Oral Hygiene Instruction for Adolescent Orthodontic Patients

## TL;DR

A new method combining hands-on practice and multimedia education improved oral hygiene in teens with braces better than traditional methods.

## Contribution

Combining hands-on practice with multimedia resources significantly enhances oral hygiene education for adolescent orthodontic patients.

## Key findings

- The intervention group showed significantly higher oral hygiene knowledge scores compared to the control group.
- The intervention group had better plaque and gingival indices, indicating improved oral health.
- Participants in the intervention group reported higher satisfaction and more frequent oral hygiene practices.

## Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel educational approach combining hands-on practice with multimedia resources for improving oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among adolescent orthodontic patients.

This randomised controlled trial involved 120 adolescent patients (aged 12–18) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment at Hospital of Xiamen Medical College. Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 60), receiving comprehensive oral hygiene education combining hands-on practice with multimedia resources, or the control group (n = 60), receiving standard verbal instructions and a printed pamphlet. The intervention consisted of three monthly sessions over 12 weeks, followed by a 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes included oral hygiene knowledge (20-item questionnaire), attitudes (OHIP-14 scale), and clinical parameters (plaque index and gingival index). Secondary outcomes comprised participant satisfaction, oral hygiene practice frequency, and multimedia resource usage.

The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements across all primary outcomes. Oral hygiene knowledge scores increased from 12.3 ± 2.8 to 17.9 ± 1.8 at follow-up in the intervention group versus 12.1 ± 2.9 to 13.8 ± 2.5 in controls (P < 0.001). OHIP-14 scores decreased from 18.5 ± 5.7 to 10.8 ± 3.9 in the intervention group versus 18.3 ± 5.5 to 16.8 ± 5.0 in controls (P < 0.001). Plaque index reduced from 2.1 ± 0.5 to 1.0 ± 0.3 in the intervention group versus 2.0 ± 0.6 to 1.7 ± 0.5 in controls (P < 0.001). Gingival index decreased from 1.8 ± 0.4 to 0.9 ± 0.3 versus 1.7 ± 0.5 to 1.5 ± 0.4, respectively (P < 0.001). The intervention group showed 93% satisfaction, with significantly higher brushing frequency (89.5% vs 62.5%) and interdental cleaning frequency (77.2% vs 42.9%) than controls.

The combination of hands-on practice and multimedia education significantly improved oral hygiene outcomes among adolescent orthodontic patients compared to traditional instruction methods.

Orthodontic practices should consider implementing structured educational programmes combining hands-on training with digital tools, allocating time for practical sessions during appointments, and conducting regular follow-ups to reinforce proper techniques.