Plaque Removal Efficiency in Children With Specific Learning Disabilities
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Standardized Toothbrushing Education.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Specific Learning Disabilities, Dental Plaque, Oral Hygiene. Basic parameters: 7 years — 12 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Quantitative Analysis of Plaque Removal Efficiency in Children With Specific Learning Disabilities
Overview
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of toothbrushing education on plaque removal in children aged 7-12 years with specific learning disabilities (SLD) and to compare their plaque removal performance with healthy children. Participants will receive standardized toothbrushing education supported by visual and auditory materials. Plaque Index, Gingival Index, and photograph-based quantitative plaque analyses will be evaluated at baseline and after a 2-week follow-up period.
Detailed description
Dental plaque is one of the major etiological factors associated with oral diseases such as dental caries and gingival inflammation. Effective plaque control through proper toothbrushing habits plays an important role in maintaining oral health in children. However, children with specific learning disabilities (SLD) may experience difficulties in acquiring and maintaining adequate oral hygiene behaviors because of limitations in learning processes, attention, and motor coordination.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of structured toothbrushing education in children aged 7-12 years with SLD and to compare plaque removal performance with healthy children using photograph-based quantitative analysis methods.
The study will be conducted at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University. Children diagnosed with SLD and age-matched healthy controls will be included in the study. All participants will receive standardized toothbrushing education supported by visual cards and educational videos. Educational materials will be prepared in a child-friendly format and based on the Modified Bass toothbrushing technique.
A plaque-disclosing agent will be applied to all participants to visualize dental plaque before photography. Intraoral photographs will be obtained under standardized conditions using the same lighting, camera settings, and imaging protocol. At each evaluation session, intraoral photographs will be obtained both before and after toothbrushing in order to assess immediate plaque removal effectiveness. Quantitative plaque analysis will be performed using ImageJ/FIJI software by calculating plaque percentage (P%) values from disclosed plaque areas.
Participants will use standardized toothbrushes and toothpaste throughout the study period. During the 2-week follow-up period, children will be encouraged to continue toothbrushing under parental supervision using the taught brushing technique. At follow-up visits, Plaque Index, Gingival Index, plaque disclosure, and intraoral photography procedures will be repeated to evaluate changes in plaque removal effectiveness and oral hygiene performance.
The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the development of individualized oral hygiene education approaches for children with specific learning disabilities and to support the use of photograph-based quantitative plaque analysis methods in pediatric dentistry research.
Interventions
- Behavioral Standardized Toothbrushing Education
Participants will receive standardized toothbrushing education supported by visual educational cards and educational videos based on the Modified Bass toothbrushing technique. The education program will include step-by-step practical instruction, mirror-assisted self-modeling, and parental involvement. Standardized toothbrushes and toothpaste will be provided to all participants. Plaque removal effectiveness will be evaluated using plaque-disclosing agents, intraoral photographs obtained before
Primary outcome measures
- Change in plaque percentage (P%) measured using ImageJ/FIJI analysis [Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Change in Plaque Index (Silness and Löe Plaque Index) Scores [Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks]
- Change in Gingival Index (Löe and Silness Gingival Index) Scores [Time frame: Baseline and 2 weeks]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Diagnosis of specific learning disabilities confirmed by a child and adolescent psychiatry specialist for the study group
- Confirmation by a child and adolescent psychiatry specialist that the control group participants are healthy and do not have any psychiatric diagnosis
- Age between 7 and 12 years
- Written informed consent obtained from parents or legal guardians
Exclusion criteria
- Children with additional psychiatric diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or intellectual disability
- Children with systemic health problems or physical disabilities that may interfere with participation in the study
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Non-randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University Faculty of Dentistry — Alanya
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07611942 · ALKU-PEDO-2025-10/1