Impact of Visual Stimuli on Pediatric Oral Hygiene Performance

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE VISUAL MATERIALS USED AS MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS IN ORAL HYGIENE EDUCATION ON CHILDREN'S ORAL HYGIENE PERFORMANCE

In the present study, children aged 7 to 14 will receive verbal and active (hands-on) oral hygiene education. The education will be delivered in three different formats:

Education supported with positive visual aids (images of healthy teeth),

Education supported with negative visual aids (images of decayed or unhealthy teeth),

Verbal and active education only (control group).

These visual aids are intended to demonstrate the potential positive and negative outcomes of tooth brushing behavior.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of these different visual motivational tools approaches on children's oral hygiene performance.

To achieve this, the children's dental plaque levels and halitosis scores will be measured before the education, one week after, and one month after. These procedures are quick, painless, and non-invasive.

Inclusion Criteria:

• (1) children who had not previously received oral hygiene education, (2) children with carious lesions scored no higher than 4 on the ICDAS scale, and (3) systemically healthy children between the ages of 7 and 14. The study population consisted of male children, as well as female children who had not yet reached menarche.

Exclusion Criteria:

• (1) Children who declined to participate in the study, (2) girls who had reached menarche, (3)children with systemic disorders, and (4) children with presenting with intraoral conditions such as defective restorations that could facilitate plaque retention.