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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

36 questions · 39 findings · 12 reviews · Oral Health

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No studies found 0 · 0%GRADE not reported 24 · 61.5%Very low 8 · 20.5%Low 6 · 15.4%Moderate 1 · 2.6%High 0 · 0%

Gamified oral health interventions (mobile apps, serious games, augmented reality, game-based education) vs Conventional or traditional oral health education, or non-gamified interventions (comparator varied; several studies were single-arm/uncontrolled)

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Children or adolescents

Gamified interventions appear to improve plaque control and oral hygiene status in children versus conventional methods, but the evidence is narrative and ungraded (individual-study P values only).

1 finding from 1 review
  • The Application of Gamification in Children's Oral Health Management: Systematic Review. 2025 All outcomes
    Post-intervention (predominantly short-term; long-term follow-up in a minority of studies) · School-based settings, specialized dental clinics, and home-based environments
    In the gamified mobile health app group, plaque control was superior (P<.05) compared with the conventional method group [Zolfaghari 2021]; a gamified/reminder sticker-book group showed a significant improvement in…
    Studies not reported
    GRADE not reported

Theory-based oral health education/promotion interventions (HBM, TPB, SCT, HAPA, TTM, PMT, SOC, PRECEDE-PROCEED, MI) vs Control (waitlist, routine/standard oral health education, or minimal intervention)

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · school‐age children and adolescents

Theory-based interventions significantly reduced dental plaque (SMD -1.92; moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Primary school-based interventions (one or more of: school health policy, oral health education, healthy school environment, access to oral health services, community involvement) vs usual practice

Plaque index (PI) / oral hygiene · Primary school children (aged 3-16 years) attending primary school in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)

School-based interventions may reduce dental plaque scores (SMD -0.32, favouring intervention), but the certainty of evidence is very low.

1 finding from 1 review

Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline vs Mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline

Mechanical debridement plus topical minocycline showed no clear difference in plaque compared with mechanical debridement plus chlorhexidine gel; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes vs Ultrasonic debridement

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and peri-implant mucositis at baseline

Mechanical debridement with titanium curettes showed no clear difference in plaque compared with mechanical debridement with ultrasonic device; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline

Hyaluronic acid gel (brushing) showed no clear difference in plaque compared with chlorhexidine gel (brushing); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Chlorhexidine solution enclosed in implant inner part vs Normal saline

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline

Chlorhexidine solution enclosed in implant inner part showed no clear difference in plaque compared with physiologic (saline) solution; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Phosphoric etching (acid) gel vs Mechanical debridement and polishing

Plaque · Adults with dental implants and healthy peri-implant soft tissues at baseline

Phosphoric etching (acid) gel showed no clear difference in plaque compared with mechanical debridement and polishing; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Package of oral health education/promotion including oral hygiene advice for pregnant women, mothers, infants and young children, plus dietary and feeding practice advice for infants and young children vs usual care

Child plaque (any plaque visible on any teeth) · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

Package of oral health education/promotion including oral hygiene… led to lower child plaque (any plaque visible on any teeth) compared with standard care; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Dietary advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for infants (tailored advice focused on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol intake) vs usual care

Mother plaque (sub- and supragingival calculus) · For interventions, pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of infants in the first year of life; for outcomes, children up to 6 years…

Dietary advice on how to achieve a healthy diet for infants… showed no clear difference in mother plaque (sub- and supragingival calculus) compared with standard care; GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs usual care or no treatment

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs attention control

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Psychological intervention based on a specified psychological model/theory (to increase adherence to oral hygiene instructions) vs Educational intervention (oral hygiene education/instruction)

Plaque · Adults (aged 18 or over) diagnosed with periodontal disease (gingivitis or periodontitis)
1 finding from 1 review

Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care

Plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses)

Educational intervention with information and practical components… showed no clear difference in dental plaque compared with (Optimised) usual care (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Educational intervention with information and practical components (theoretical oral health education plus practical skills training) for nursing staff and/or residents vs (Optimised) usual care

Denture plaque · Nursing home residents (mean age 78.3 to 86.0 years; more than 66% women; 62.1% to 87.3% with dental prostheses)

Educational intervention with information and practical components… showed no clear difference in denture plaque compared with (Optimised) usual care (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review