Evaluation of an oral hygiene robot as a motivational aid in plaque control: A comparative study

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an innovative "oral hygiene robot" (OHR) compared to traditional audiovisual aids in motivating dental students to enhance their brushing skills.

The study included thirty-two dental students, divided into two phases, which were further randomized into two groups: Group A and Group B. During the initial phase, no motivational methods were applied to both the groups. In the second phase, Group A received audiovisual education, while Group B utilized the OHR. Clinical parameters (gingival index and plaque index) for both the groups were recorded before oral prophylaxis (at day 0) and subsequently at the completion of the 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 8^th weeks.

The findings revealed that both the methods of motivation significantly improved plaque control compared to the absence of motivational tools. However, students who interacted with the OHR demonstrated superior results in maintaining oral hygiene as the mean gingival index reduced from 1.661 ± 0.404 to 0.836 ± 0.349 (P < 0.001) and the mean plaque index reduced from 3.203 ± 0.338 to 1.582 ± 0.283 (P < 0.001). The data were statistically analyzed using paired "t-" test for intragroup analysis and unpaired "t-" test for intergroup analysis. All statistical comparisons were conducted at the 0.05 level of significance.

The study highlights the potential of the OHR as an advanced educational tool for promoting better oral health practices. Its interactive and time-efficient design offers a more dynamic learning experience, making it a valuable addition to dental health education. This approach could pave the way for innovative strategies in oral hygiene training, ultimately enhancing patient care standards.