Effect of various active reminders via mobile phone on cooperation of orthodontic teenage patients regarding oral hygiene and ClassII elastics use : Athree-month follow-up prospective cohort study.

Abstract

The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to assess the impact of reminders via mobile phone, such as text messages or video/multimedia images, on orthodontic patients' cooperation with regard to oral hygiene and the use of ClassII intermaxillary elastics. The study included 124 orthodontic patients aged 12-20years (mean age14.06 ± 2.0 years, 63females and 61males). The patients were divided into two groups: group1 (n = 56) was evaluated for oral hygiene, while group2 (n = 68) was evaluated for the use of ClassII intermaxillary elastics. Each main group was divided into three subgroups: text message group, video message group, and control group. Specific messages were sent to the participants in the study groups twice aweek for 12weeks. Data were collected at the beginning of the study (T0), after 6weeks (T1), and 12weeks (T2) and compared to determine the impact of the reminders. Oral hygiene was evaluated using plaque and gingival index scores, and the use of ClassII elastics was evaluated using digital model measurements. Between-subject comparisons were performed using Kruskal-Wallis or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). For within-subject comparisons (T0-T1, T1-T2, and T0-T2 time intervals), one-way repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman test was performed. There was no significant difference between the control group (1.49 ± 0.22) and the message groups (video: 1.58 ± 0.34 and text: 1.51 ± 0.28) in terms of plaque index scores and gingival index (control: 1.56 ± 0.26, text: 1.51 ± 0.36, video: 1.52 ± 0.26) scores. However, in the intragroup comparison, it was observed that both plaque index scores and gingival index scores at T0, T1, and T2 increased for both the study and control groups. While there was no difference between the subgroups in overjet measurement at T0 (control: 3.46 ± 1.20, video: 3.34 ± 1.20, text: 2.73 ± 1.03; p = 0.51), there was asignificant difference at T2 (control: 2.62 ± 0.85, video: 2.32 ± 1.41, text: 1.48 ± 0.72, p < 0.01). Mobile active reminders had no effect on improving oral hygiene. Despite repeated reminders, hygiene worsened over time. The use of ClassII elastics seemed to have increased as aresult of the mobile reminders.