Effectiveness of indirect motivational methods in the reduction of biofilm and gingival alteration in adults

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of different indirect oral hygiene methods in the reduction of bacterial plaque and gingival bleeding in adults. Methods: This was a controlled, randomized, and double-blind study. The adults (n = 88) were divided into four groups (n = 22) according to the adopted motivational method: Group I: film; Group II: folder; Group III: lecture; Group IV (control): no motivation. The content informed was the same; the only difference was in the adopted motivational methodology. In the control group, the content was given after having completed the study. The clinical examination was performed through the bacterial and gingival plaque indices at zero time (baseline), 7, 37, 67, and 97 days after the motivations. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) / Tukey's test was performed (p <0.05). Results: The methods of indirect motivation (film, leaflet, and lecture) presented a reduction in the bacterial plaque index and gingival index during the follow-up time (p> 0.05). However, seven days after indirect motivation, the index of plaque in group I (film) was lower than in group IV (control) (p = 0.015), and neither differed from groups II (folder) and III (lecture). After 37 days, the gingival index of groups I (film) and III (lecture) differed from the control group, but presented no statistically significant difference when compared to group II (folder) (p <0.001). Conclusion: Although there was no reduction in the bacterial plaque index and in the groups during follow-up, the motivation through film and lecture presented a lower average plaque index and gingival index when compared to the control group in at least one period of the study's evaluation.(AU)