Dental PlaqueiTeethNCT07835022
Smartphone App Versus Verbal Motivation for Oral Hygiene in Fixed Orthodontic Patients
A study testing Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics) and Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation in people with Dental Plaque and Oral Hygiene, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study looked at whether a smartphone app can help patients with fixed braces keep their teeth cleaner than usual spoken advice alone. Fixed braces make plaque harder to remove, which can harm the teeth and gums, so good brushing habits matter. Fifty patients aged 14 to 22 were divided at random into two groups. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 to 22 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dental Plaque, Oral Hygiene, Gingivitis
- What is being tested?
- Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics) and Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 8 Jun 2020to 18 May 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 14 to 22 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Accepted for fixed orthodontic treatment
- Skeletal and/or dental Class I or Class II malocclusion
- Owns and regularly uses a smartphone
- Completed permanent dentition
- No systemic disease and no continuous (long-term) medication
- Exclusion Criteria: Skeletal malocclusion severe enough to require orthognathic (surgical) treatment
Show all 10Show fewer
- Motor, physical, or mental impairment interfering with toothbrushing
- Congenitally missing or pre-treatment extracted teeth
- Impacted or supernumerary teeth
- Teeth with shape anomalies -
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Orthodontics
Samsun, 55139
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application Versus Conventional Verbal Motivation on Oral Hygiene in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study looked at whether a smartphone app can help patients with fixed braces keep their teeth cleaner than usual spoken advice alone. Fixed braces make plaque harder to remove, which can harm the teeth and gums, so good brushing habits matter.
Fifty patients aged 14 to 22 were divided at random into two groups. One group used a purpose-made app ("iTeeth Orthodontics") that sent brushing reminders, timed brushing, and kept a brushing log. The other group received the usual spoken oral-hygiene motivation. Both groups used the same brushes, toothpaste, and rinse, and followed the same cleaning routine.
Plaque was measured from photographs at 10 days and at 1, 2, and 3 months, using a computer to calculate how much of each tooth surface was covered by plaque. The two groups were then compared.
Read the detailed description
ackground and objective: Maintaining oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment is difficult, and patient motivation is central to preventing plaque accumulation, enamel demineralization, and gingival inflammation. This trial compared a purpose-built smartphone application with conventional verbal motivation for plaque control during fixed orthodontic treatment.
Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group (1:1) in vivo trial conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University (Samsun, Türkiye). Fifty patients (14-22 years) with Class I or II malocclusion who owned and used a smartphone were enrolled and allocated equally to a mobile group (app plus standard regimen) or a control group (verbal motivation plus the identical regimen).
Intervention: The "iTeeth Orthodontics" application provided treatment information, customizable brushing reminders (push notifications), an adjustable brushing timer with interdental-brush and mouthrinse prompts, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log. Both groups used identical brackets, archwires, toothbrushes, interdental brushes, toothpaste, and mouthrinse, and followed the same oral-hygiene regimen (modified Bass brushing three times daily, nightly interdental cleaning, and mouthrinse), so that the motivational method was the only variable.
Outcome and assessment: Plaque was recorded at day 10 (T0) and at 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) months. After application of a disclosing agent, standardized intraoral photographs were taken, and the disclosed plaque area on the maxillary central incisors, canines, and second premolars was quantified by computer-assisted planimetry as a percentage of the total visible buccal crown surface. The outcome assessor was blinded to group and time point. Between-group and over-time comparisons were then performed.
- Conditions
- Dental Plaque, Oral Hygiene, Gingivitis, Malocclusion
- Being tested
- Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics), Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation
- Keywords
- fixed orthodontic appliances, oral hygiene motivation, mHealth, smartphone application, dental plaque, plaque index, patient compliance, adolescents
- Medical subject headings
- Dental Plaque, Gingivitis, Malocclusion, Patient Compliance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics)Behavioural
Purpose-built smartphone application supporting oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment. It provides treatment information, customizable brushing reminders (push notifications), an adjustable brushing timer that prompts interdental-brush use and mouthrinse at the end of each session, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log, used alongside the standardized oral-hygiene regimen common to both groups.
Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivationBehavioural
Standard chairside verbal oral-hygiene motivation and instruction, delivered without the smartphone application, alongside the same oral-hygiene regimen and materials (toothbrush, interdental brush, toothpaste, mouthrinse; modified Bass brushing three times daily, nightly interdental cleaning, and mouthrinse) provided to both groups.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile group | Experimental | Participants used the purpose-built "iTeeth Orthodontics" smartphone application (treatment information, customizable brushing reminders/push notifications, an adjustable brushing timer with interdental-brush and mouthrinse prompts, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log), together with the standardized oral-hygiene regimen and materials used by both groups. Receives: Behavioral: Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics) |
| Control group | Active comparator | Participants received conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation, without the smartphone application, together with the identical standardized oral-hygiene regimen and materials used by both groups. Receives: Behavioral: Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Dental plaque percentage (computer-assisted planimetry)
Amount of dental plaque expressed as the disclosed plaque area as a percentage of the total visible buccal crown surface. After application of a plaque-disclosing agent, standardized intraoral photographs were taken and the plaque area on the maxillary central incisors, canines, and second premolars was quantified by computer-assisted planimetry. Lower values indicate less plaque (better oral hygiene). The outcome assessor was blinded to group and time point.
Measured: Day 10 (T0, baseline) and at 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3)
Secondary outcomes (1)
Tooth-type-specific dental plaque percentage
Plaque percentage (disclosed plaque area as a percentage of the total visible buccal crown surface, by planimetry) analyzed separately for maxillary central incisors, canines, and second premolars, and within-group change over the follow-up period.
Measured: Day 10 (T0) and at 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Sep 2026
- Study start8 Jun 2020
- Primary completion12 Jan 2021
- Study completion18 May 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Dental PlaqueStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two-arm parallel-group design with 1:1 allocation. Both groups followed an identical oral-hygiene regimen and used identical appliances and materials; the only difference between groups was the motivational method (smartphone application versus verbal motivation), isolating its effect on plaque.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Selim Arici, Ondokuz Mayıs University
- Investigators
- Selim Arici, Study chair, Atlas University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07835022
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- OMU-2020-86-iTeeth
- Acronym
- iTeeth
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the reported results are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request, subject to institutional approval and a data-sharing agreement, and in accordance with the privacy and ethical restrictions of the approving ethics committee.
Publications
Alkadhi OH, Zahid MN, Almanea RS, Althaqeb HK, Alharbi TH, Ajwa NM. The effect of using mobile applications for improving oral hygiene in patients with orthodontic fixed appliances: a randomised controlled trial. J Orthod. 2017 Sep;44(3):157-163. doi: 10.1080/14653125.2017.1346746. Epub 2017 Jul 13.
PubMed 28705122Soder PO, Jin LJ, Soder B. Computerized planimetric method for clinical plaque measurement. Scand J Dent Res. 1993 Feb;101(1):21-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1993.tb01640.x.
PubMed 8441891
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application Versus Conventional Verbal Motivation on Oral Hygiene in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07835022
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- iTeeth / OMU-2020-86-iTeeth
- Conditions
- Dental Plaque, Oral Hygiene, Gingivitis, Malocclusion
- Keywords
- fixed orthodontic appliances, oral hygiene motivation, mHealth, smartphone application, dental plaque, plaque index, patient compliance, adolescents
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Atlas UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 8 Jun 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 May 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study looked at whether a smartphone app can help patients with fixed braces keep their teeth cleaner than usual spoken advice alone. Fixed braces make plaque harder to remove, which can harm the teeth and gums, so good brushing habits matter.
Fifty patients aged 14 to 22 were divided at random into two groups. One group used a purpose-made app ("iTeeth Orthodontics") that sent brushing reminders, timed brushing, and kept a brushing log. The other group received the usual spoken oral-hygiene motivation. Both groups used the same brushes, toothpaste, and rinse, and followed the same cleaning routine.
Plaque was measured from photographs at 10 days and at 1, 2, and 3 months, using a computer to calculate how much of each tooth surface was covered by plaque. The two groups were then compared.
Detailed description
ackground and objective: Maintaining oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment is difficult, and patient motivation is central to preventing plaque accumulation, enamel demineralization, and gingival inflammation. This trial compared a purpose-built smartphone application with conventional verbal motivation for plaque control during fixed orthodontic treatment.
Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel-group (1:1) in vivo trial conducted at the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Ondokuz Mayıs University (Samsun, Türkiye). Fifty patients (14-22 years) with Class I or II malocclusion who owned and used a smartphone were enrolled and allocated equally to a mobile group (app plus standard regimen) or a control group (verbal motivation plus the identical regimen).
Intervention: The "iTeeth Orthodontics" application provided treatment information, customizable brushing reminders (push notifications), an adjustable brushing timer with interdental-brush and mouthrinse prompts, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log. Both groups used identical brackets, archwires, toothbrushes, interdental brushes, toothpaste, and mouthrinse, and followed the same oral-hygiene regimen (modified Bass brushing three times daily, nightly interdental cleaning, and mouthrinse), so that the motivational method was the only variable.
Outcome and assessment: Plaque was recorded at day 10 (T0) and at 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) months. After application of a disclosing agent, standardized intraoral photographs were taken, and the disclosed plaque area on the maxillary central incisors, canines, and second premolars was quantified by computer-assisted planimetry as a percentage of the total visible buccal crown surface. The outcome assessor was blinded to group and time point. Between-group and over-time comparisons were then performed.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two-arm parallel-group design with 1:1 allocation. Both groups followed an identical oral-hygiene regimen and used identical appliances and materials; the only difference between groups was the motivational method (smartphone application versus verbal motivation), isolating its effect on plaque.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile group | Experimental | Behavioral: Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics)Participants used the purpose-built "iTeeth Orthodontics" smartphone application (treatment information, customizable brushing reminders/push notifications, an adjustable brushing timer with interdental-brush and mouthrinse prompts, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log), together with the standardized oral-hygiene regimen and materials used by both groups. |
| Control group | Active comparator | Behavioral: Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivationParticipants received conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation, without the smartphone application, together with the identical standardized oral-hygiene regimen and materials used by both groups. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 to 22 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- Accepted for fixed orthodontic treatment
- Skeletal and/or dental Class I or Class II malocclusion
- Owns and regularly uses a smartphone
- Completed permanent dentition
- No systemic disease and no continuous (long-term) medication
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics)Purpose-built smartphone application supporting oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment. It provides treatment information, customizable brushing reminders (push notifications), an adjustable brushing timer that prompts interdental-brush use and mouthrinse at the end of each session, and a daily/weekly/monthly brushing log, used alongside the standardized oral-hygiene regimen common to both groups. | Behavioural | Mobile group |
| Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivationStandard chairside verbal oral-hygiene motivation and instruction, delivered without the smartphone application, alongside the same oral-hygiene regimen and materials (toothbrush, interdental brush, toothpaste, mouthrinse; modified Bass brushing three times daily, nightly interdental cleaning, and mouthrinse) provided to both groups. | Behavioural | Control group |
Primary outcome
Dental plaque percentage (computer-assisted planimetry)
Time frame: Day 10 (T0, baseline) and at 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3)
Amount of dental plaque expressed as the disclosed plaque area as a percentage of the total visible buccal crown surface. After application of a plaque-disclosing agent, standardized intraoral photographs were taken and the plaque area on the maxillary central incisors, canines, and second premolars was quantified by computer-assisted planimetry. Lower values indicate less plaque (better oral hygiene). The outcome assessor was blinded to group and time point.
1 secondary outcome
Tooth-type-specific dental plaque percentage
Time frame: Day 10 (T0) and at 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Sep 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 28705122Alkadhi OH, Zahid MN, Almanea RS, Althaqeb HK, Alharbi TH, Ajwa NM. The effect of using mobile applications for improving oral hygiene in patients with orthodontic fixed appliances: a randomised controlled trial. J Orthod. 2017 Sep;44(3):157-163. doi: 10.1080/14653125.2017.1346746. Epub 2017 Jul 13.
- Results publication: PubMed 8441891Soder PO, Jin LJ, Soder B. Computerized planimetric method for clinical plaque measurement. Scand J Dent Res. 1993 Feb;101(1):21-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0722.1993.tb01640.x.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data underlying the reported results are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request, subject to institutional approval and a data-sharing agreement, and in accordance with the privacy and ethical restrictions of the approving ethics committee.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Selim Arici study chair
Atlas University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Smartphone application for oral-hygiene motivation (iTeeth Orthodontics) and Conventional verbal oral-hygiene motivation in people with Dental Plaque and Oral Hygiene, run by Atlas University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Dental plaque percentage (computer-assisted planimetry) (time frame: Day 10 (T0, baseline) and at 1 month (T1), 2 months (T2), and 3 months (T3)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07835022, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Sep 2026.