App push-notification reminders to improve oral hygiene for teens with braces
Official title: Mobile Application Push Notification in Improving Oral Hygiene Behaviour in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by International Islamic University Malaysia · NCT07288853 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether daily push-notification reminders from a smartphone app help adolescents with braces keep their teeth and gums cleaner.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 78 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | International Islamic University Malaysia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Kuantan, Pahang) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 26, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07288853 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are 12–18-year-olds starting or undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment who have good baseline oral hygiene, can understand Bahasa Malaysia or English, and have access to a personal or parent smartphone.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are medically compromised, on antibiotics, undergoing periodontal therapy, have cognitive limitations preventing app use, or are already using another dental reminder app may not benefit or are excluded.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center, three-arm randomized trial at the International Islamic University Malaysia compares an app with daily push notifications, the same app without notifications, and standard oral hygiene instructions alone. Participants are adolescents aged 12–18 receiving upper and lower fixed orthodontic appliances and who have access to a smartphone. Primary outcomes include changes in orthodontic plaque index and gingival index, and secondary outcomes include a knowledge‑attitude‑practice (KAP) questionnaire about oral hygiene. The trial uses parallel-group randomization, informed consent, and clinic visits for standardized clinical assessments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, regular app reminders could reduce plaque and gingivitis around brackets and help prevent early white spot lesions in teens with braces.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of text- and app-based reminders for oral hygiene have shown modest but positive improvements in plaque control and adherence, so the approach has some supporting evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 12-18 years * Suitable for upper and lower arch fixed appliance treatment * Good oral hygiene * Able to understand Bahasa Malaysia and/or English * Possess a personal or parental smartphone with app access Exclusion Criteria: * Medically compromised or syndromic patients * Need to skip bracket bonding * On antibiotics * Undergoing periodontal therapy * Already using another dental reminder or behavior-change app * Patients with cognitive or developmental limitations preventing app use
Where it's running
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Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia
Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kumeran Mohan (Dr), Master of Orthodontics
- Email: kumeran@iium.edu.my
- Phone: +60164478057
Similar studies
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This will see if using lacebacks on one side of the mouth helps patients aged 15 and older with fixed braces have better oral hygiene, fewer archwire problems, and different pain during the alignment phase.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.