Department of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany,
Department of Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Caries Res. 2019;53(6):628-635. doi: 10.1159/000499868. Epub 2019 May 27.
Performing proper toothbrushing is a complicated process for children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a smartphone app for improving manual toothbrushing via a gravitation sensor.
In this prospective, controlled, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial, 49 children (mean age 5.1 ± 0.6 years, 27 female) were randomly assigned to test (n = 26) and control (n = 23) groups. All children were provided with manual toothbrushes with an integrated gravitation sensor and they received oral health instructions. Only the children of the test group got an additional smartphone app to visualize and reward proper brushing in form and time. At baseline and recalls after 6 and 12 weeks, plaque and gingival indices (QHI, PBI) were recorded for analysis between the two groups.
At baseline, there were no significant differences between the test and control group regarding plaque and gingival indices (QHI: 2.36 ± 0.7 and 2.42 ± 0.8; p = 0.94; PBI: 0.42 ± 0.2 and 0.47 ± 0.3; p = 0.59). At the 6- and 12-week recalls, the test group showed statistically -significantly better oral health indices than the controls (6-week recall, QHI: 0.8 ±0.5 and 1.88 ± 0.9; p < 0.001; PBI: 0.08 ± 0.1 and 0.26 ± 0.2; p < 0.001; 12-week recall, QHI: 0.44 ± 0.5 and 1.49 ± 0.7; p < 0.001; PBI: 0.05 ± 0.18 and 0.21 ± 0.1; p < 0.001).
The results highlight the enormous possibilities of a toothbrushing application via the smartphone, at least for medium-term oral hygiene improvement in preschool children and even after excluding the app. The long-term effect should also be investigated to exclude the expected novelty effect.
对儿童来说，正确刷牙是一个复杂的过程。因此，本研究的目的是通过一个重力传感器来评估智能手机应用程序在改善手动刷牙方面的效果。
在这项前瞻性、对照、单盲、随机临床试验中，49 名儿童（平均年龄 5.1 ± 0.6 岁，27 名女性）被随机分配到试验组（n = 26）和对照组（n = 23）。所有儿童均使用带有集成重力传感器的手动牙刷，并接受口腔健康指导。只有试验组的儿童会获得一个额外的智能手机应用程序，以可视化和奖励正确的刷牙时间和方式。在基线和 6 周及 12 周的随访中，对两组的菌斑指数（QHI）和牙龈指数（PBI）进行记录和分析。
在基线时，试验组和对照组的菌斑和牙龈指数（QHI：2.36 ± 0.7 和 2.42 ± 0.8；p = 0.94；PBI：0.42 ± 0.2 和 0.47 ± 0.3；p = 0.59）之间无统计学差异。在 6 周和 12 周的随访中，试验组的口腔健康指数明显优于对照组（6 周随访，QHI：0.8 ± 0.5 和 1.88 ± 0.9；p < 0.001；PBI：0.08 ± 0.1 和 0.26 ± 0.2；p < 0.001；12 周随访，QHI：0.44 ± 0.5 和 1.49 ± 0.7；p < 0.001；PBI：0.05 ± 0.18 和 0.21 ± 0.1；p < 0.001）。
这些结果突出了智能手机在刷牙应用方面的巨大潜力，至少可以在短期内改善学龄前儿童的口腔卫生，即使在没有应用程序的情况下也可以改善。还应该对长期效果进行研究，以排除预期的新颖性效应。
