Comparing the Effect of Multimedia and Practical Education on the Oral Hygiene of Orthodontic Patients

Introduction: Brackets and other fixed orthodontic appliances not only make tooth brushing more difficult, but also provide a suitable environment for the accumulation of plaque. To prevent this situation, dentists usually educate their patients to control the plaque formation and maintain good oral hygiene. This study aims to compare the effect of multimedia and practical education on the knowledge and practice of oral hygiene in patients with the fixed orthodontics appliances. Materials and Methods: In this educational trial study, based on inclusion criteria, 60 patients aged 12-35 years with orthodontic brackets bonded to their upper jaw teeth for less than 6 months were consecutively selected from referrals to the specialty dental clinic of the International Branch of Guilan University of Medical Sciences. The samples were randomly divided in two groups of 30 subjects: practical education group and multimedia education group. Plaque and gingival indices and knowledge of the patients before and 2 months after the training were compared. To compare the knowledge score, gingival index and plaque index before and after the training and also to compare the changes in these variables in the two groups, t-test analysis was performed. Results: The knowledge level, the gingival index and plaque index of both educational groups improved after education compared to before the education (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between two groups with regard to changes in the variables of knowledge level (P=0.823), plaque index (P=0.66), and gingival index (P=0.292). Conclusion: Both educational methods improved the hygiene and the awareness of the dental practice. Therefore, learning by a validated multimedia in the presence of an expert to answer the questions is as effective as the practical approach for the oral health and hygiene of orthodontic patients.