Effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing in Promoting Oral Health Among Children

This clinical study aims 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 aged 8-10. The study is a randomized clinical trial that will be conducted among healthy pediatric patients attending the pediatric dentistry clinics at the University of Jordan Hospital.

Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and give consent will be randomly assigned to three groups:

1. Verbal and written instructions group: Basic oral hygiene instruction will be given to this group on a model of the mouth and then supported by written instructions.
2. Video monitored (VIDEO) group: Uploaded from the National Health Service (NHS) website and translated to the patient's mother tongue (Arabic).
3. Motivational interviewing (MI) group: The participants will join the motivation sessions one-to-one, face-to-face, with the primary researcher, who will be trained and calibrated to provide MI and take sessions with qualified psychologists.

Oral hygiene will be assessed using two parameters:

Plaque index scoring: 0/1 Bleeding on probing score: 0/1 Each patient will be examined twice: the first time is before the intervention, and the second is after a follow-up period of 1 month.

The study will also investigate the influence of age, sex, and socioeconomic status on oral hygiene improvement.

The findings of this research aim to contribute to the growing body of literature on MI and inform public health strategies aimed at reducing the global burden of childhood dental diseases.

• Motivational interviewing oral hygiene instructions (Behavioral): Brief motivational interviewing session for each patient for around 20-30 minutes
• Video for oral hygiene instructions (Other): A video about oral hygiene instructions uploaded from NHS and translated for the mother tongue language of the participants
• Written and verbal oral hygiene instructions (Other): Basic oral hygiene instruction will be given verbally and then supported by written instructions.

Primary outcomes

• Plaque index [From enrollment to the 4-week follow-up appointment]: The primary researcher will document the plaque index for each patient prior to the intervention and after the follow-up appointment after 1 month using Plaque Control Index scoring
• Bleeding index [From enrollment to the 4-week follow-up appointment]: The primary researcher will document the bleeding index for each patient prior to the intervention and during every follow-up appointment using Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI)

Sex: All, ages: 8 Years to 10 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Children who are medically healthy
* Children with normal manual dexterity
* Children whose parents/guardians provide informed consent
* Children not currently receiving orthodontic therapy
* Children who do not require periodontal specialty care
* Children with normal occlusion or mild, non-treatment-requiring malocclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children with systematic, or syndromic disease
* Children with special health care needs
* Children with poor manual dexterity
* Children with negative consents.
* Children with current orthodontic therapy
* Children with chronic diseases.
* Children on medications that may cause drug-induced gingivitis.
* Children who attend periodontal clinics.
* Children with malocclusion