What do systematic reviews say?

Primary school-based behavioural intervention (both oral hygiene and dietary components) vs No treatment (or delayed treatment)

• Primary school‐based behavioural interventions for preventing caries 2013 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Worthington 2001 reported children's brushing frequency: almost all children (99%) at baseline reported twice daily brushing, and this level was maintained across all groups throughout the intervention (in baseline…
  1 study
  GRADE not reported

Ozone applied to the carious lesion (10 or 40 seconds), with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice vs No ozone, with a fluoride reductant and oral hygiene/preventive advice (as in the intervention group)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Ozone therapy for the treatment of dental caries 2004 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No data were provided in any of the included trials on time to intervention.
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs no intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs no intervention

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs Different intervention programme

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Referral to specialist agencies for support in relation to domestic violence vs Different intervention programme

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Domestic violence screening and intervention programmes for adults with dental or facial injury 2010 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No eligible randomised controlled trials were identified. The update search retrieved an additional 2129 references; after de-duplication this left 1381 potentially eligible studies, and after examination of titles and…
  0 studies
  No studies found

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)

Theory-based educational interventions significantly improved oral health self-efficacy (SMD 1.49; low certainty), though between-study heterogeneity was very high.

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 4 weeks to 12 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 1.49 [0.99, 2.00]
  10 studies · 4513 participants
  Low

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved oral health attitude (SMD 9.32; low certainty); the very large effect warrants cautious interpretation.

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up immediately after to 6 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 9.32 [7.08, 11.55]
  3 studies · 2370 participants
  Low

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved oral health-related quality of life (SMD 7.38; low certainty), with very high heterogeneity.

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 0.5 to 12 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 7.38 [5.57, 9.19]
  4 studies · 4751 participants
  Low

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)

Theory-based interventions showed no significant effect on DMFT scores (SMD -0.11; low certainty).

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 3 to 12 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD -0.11 [-0.27, 0.04]
  4 studies · 2556 participants
  Low

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved periodontal health (SMD -1.18; moderate certainty).

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 2 weeks to 6 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD -1.18 [-1.83, -0.53]
  4 studies · 3342 participants
  Moderate

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved oral health behavior (SMD 2.58; low certainty), with very high heterogeneity.

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 0.5 to 24 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 2.58 [2.03, 3.12]
  6 studies · 13973 participants
  Low

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)

Theory-based interventions significantly improved oral health knowledge (SMD 1.09; low certainty).

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up immediately after to 24 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD 1.09 [0.80, 1.39]
  7 studies · 10904 participants
  Low

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)

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

• Health promotion theory-based educational interventions for improving oral health in children and adolescents: a… 2025 All outcomes

  Post-intervention (follow-up 1 to 24 months, varies by study) · School-based and community settings; multiple countries (predominantly Iran; also Pakistan, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Thailand) · Overall
  SMD -1.92 [-2.42, -1.42]
  9 studies · 12562 participants
  Moderate

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997 observed and rated participants on flossing skill; Analysis of Covariance found a significant difference favouring the intervention group.
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  The impact of psychological interventions on clinical markers was assessed in three studies (Little 1997; Stewart 1991; Weinstein 1996). All three found that psychological interventions resulted in improved plaque…
  3 studies
  GRADE not reported

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Stewart 1996: the psychological intervention group demonstrated significantly higher change in self efficacy scores for flossing at post-intervention compared to the other two groups (control and educational). Flossing…
  1 study · 117 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Weinstein 1996 reported that the psychological intervention led to improvements in plaque score greater than that noted in the attention control group; however the sample size in each arm was very small (n=5) and the…
  2 studies
  GRADE not reported

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997: no change in pocket depth; there were no differences between the intervention and control groups in overall change in pocket depth. (Some analyses suggested greater change in the intervention group when…
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported

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

• Psychological interventions to improve adherence to oral hygiene instructions in adults with periodontal diseases 2007 · Cochrane All outcomes

  4 months
  Little 1997 reported decreased gingival bleeding in the active intervention group: gingival bleeding present in 9% of the intervention group at baseline and 4% at 4-month follow up, versus 10% of the control group on…
  1 study · 107 participants
  GRADE not reported