Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Feb;48(1):142-53.
doi: 10.1590/s0034-8910.2014048004616.

Effectiveness of motivational interviewing at improving oral health: a systematic review

Andreia Morales Cascaes, Renata Moraes Bielemann, Valerie Lyn Clark, Aluísio J D Barros

Effectiveness of motivational interviewing at improving oral health: a systematic review

Andreia Morales Cascaes et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2014 Feb.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) at improving oral health behaviors (oral hygiene habits, sugar consumption, dental services utilization or use of fluoride) and dental clinical outcomes (dental plaque, dental caries and periodontal status).

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, PsyINFO, Cochrane and Google Scholar bibliographic databases was conducted looking for intervention studies that investigated MI as the main approach to improving the oral health outcomes investigated.

Results: Of the 78 articles found, ten met the inclusion criteria, all based on randomized controlled trials. Most studies (n = 8) assessed multiple outcomes. Five interventions assessed the impact of MI on oral health behaviors and nine on clinical outcomes (three on dental caries, six on dental plaque, four on gingivitis and three on periodontal pockets). Better quality of evidence was provided by studies that investigated dental caries, which also had the largest population samples. The evidence of the effect of MI on improving oral health outcomes is conflicting. Four studies reported positive effects of MI on oral health outcomes whereas another four showed null effect. In two interventions, the actual difference between groups was not reported or able to be recalculated.

Conclusions: We found inconclusive effectiveness for most oral health outcomes. We need more and better designed and reported interventions to fully assess the impact of MI on oral health and understand the appropriate dosage for the counseling interventions.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a efetividade da entrevista motivacional na melhoria dos comportamentos em saúde bucal (higiene bucal, consumo de açúcar, uso de serviços odontológicos e uso de fluoretos) e dos desfechos clínicos (placa dentária, cárie e condições periodontais).

MÉTODOS: Revisão sistemática da literatura com busca nas bases de dados PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, SciELO, PsyINFO, Cochrane e Google Scholar. Foram incluídos estudos que investigaram a entrevista motivacional como a principal abordagem para melhorar os desfechos em saúde bucal investigados.

RESULTADOS: De 78 estudos localizados, dez foram incluídos, todos randomizados e controlados; a maioria (n = 8) avaliou múltiplos desfechos. Cinco intervenções acessaram o impacto da entrevista motivacional nos comportamentos em saúde bucal e nove em desfechos clínicos (três em cárie, seis em placa dentária, quatro em gengivite e três em bolsas periodontais). A melhor qualidade de evidência foi encontrada nos estudos que investigaram cárie, os quais também possuíam as maiores amostras populacionais. A evidência do efeito da entrevista motivacional na melhoria da saúde bucal foi conflituosa. Quatro estudos reportaram efeitos positivos, enquanto outros quatro mostraram efeito nulo. A real diferença entre os grupos não foi apresentada ou possível de recalcular em duas intervenções.

CONCLUSÕES: Encontramos resultados inconclusivos para a maioria dos desfechos. São necessárias mais intervenções com metodologias mais apropriadas que avaliem amplamente o impacto da entrevista motivacional na saúde bucal, além de conhecer a dosagem adequada para as intervenções.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of study selection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

    1. Almomani F, Williams K, Catley D, Brown C. Effects of an oral health promotion program in people with mental illness. J Dent Res. 2009;88(7):648–652. doi: 10.1177/0022034509338156. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Attin T, Hornecker E. Tooth brushing and oral health: how frequently and when should tooth brushing be performed? Oral Health Prev Dent. 2005;3(3):135–140. - PubMed
    1. Baban A, Craciun C. Changing health-risk behaviors: a review of theory and evidence-based interventions in health psychology. J Cogn Behav Psychother. 2007;7(1):45–67.
    1. Batchelor PA, Sheiham A. The distribution of burden of dental caries in schoolchildren: a critique of the high-risk caries prevention strategy for populations. BMC Oral Health. 2006;6:3. doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-6-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Borrell LN, Papapanou PN. Analytical epidemiology of periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2005;32(Suppl 6):132–158. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00799.x. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms