Effectiveness of motivational interviewing, animation videos, and jaw model instruction on oral hygiene in 4-6 years old children: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Dental caries is the most common noncommunicable disease worldwide, particularly affecting young children due to ineffective plaque control. Effective and engaging oral health education methods are critical for establishing proper brushing habits in early childhood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different tooth brushing training methods on dental plaque accumulation in preschool-aged children. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 45 healthy children aged 4-6 years. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups (n=15 each): a control group receiving traditional instruction using a jaw model, an animation video group, and a motivational interviewing (MI) group. The plaque index (PI) was recorded at baseline and two weeks after the interventions. Gender distribution was also evaluated in relation to PI outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate comparative tests with significance set at (p < 0.05). Results: Significant reductions in plaque index scores were observed in both the MI group (baseline: 1.9 +/- 0.5; follow-up: 1.26 +/- 0.55) and animation video groups (baseline: 1.77 +/- 0.72; follow-up: 1.34 +/- 0.62) (p < 0.05). The control group showed no statistically significant change in PI scores. Gender had no significant effect on plaque index outcomes. Conclusions: Motivational interviewing and animated video-based education were more effective than traditional jaw model instruction in reducing dental plaque in preschool children. These interactive and child-friendly approaches may enhance the effectiveness of oral hygiene education in early childhood settings and could be recommended for widespread use in preventive pediatric dentistry programs.