Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Dental plaque is a major contributor to oral diseases, particularly in children, but its impact can be significantly mitigated through targeted oral health education. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various tooth-brushing instructional methods in reducing dental plaque in children. METHODS: A total of 120 children, aged 6 to 8, attending the pediatric department of Alborz Dental School, were randomly selected for the study. Participants were divided into four groups of 30 children each (15 boys and 15 girls). Each group received a different instructional method: (1) demonstration of tooth brushing on a dental model, (2) self-brushing in front of a mirror, (3) brushing another child's teeth in front of a mirror, and (4) instruction via a standardized video. Dental plaque levels were measured using a disclosing agent before and after training, with a two-week follow-up to assess the impact of instruction. Senior students provided group-specific brushing training. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 with ANOVA and t-tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: All four groups demonstrated significant reductions in plaque levels post-training and at the two-week follow-up compared to baseline, as measured by the O'Leary index. The group trained with dental models showed the most substantial plaque reduction (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Instruction using dental models proved to be the most effective and sustainable method for reducing dental plaque in children, highlighting its potential for impactful and enduring oral hygiene education.