Evaluation of a smartphone application in controlling oral hygiene and orthodontic urgencies in pediatric patients with rapid palatal expander: randomized clinical trial

Background: The present randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the potential effects of an orthodontic smartphone application (Ortodontika) in addition to verbal instructions for the improvement of pediatric patients’ oral health and the reduction of orthodontic urgencies in the first 6 months of hyrax rapid palatal expander (RPE) treatment. Methods: Patients aged 6–14 years old were enrolled and modified gingival index (MGI), bleeding index (BI), and plaque index (PI) were recorded at the baseline (T0) and at follow-ups. Hyrax rapid palatal expander was cemented and patients were randomly divided into the Control group, in which instructions were given to patients for RPE activations and daily oral hygiene, and in the Trial group, in which Ortodontika application was delivered as additional aid to verbal instructions. The RPE questionnaire was delivered to all patients to evaluate their perceptions and knowledge on their orthodontic treatment. The APP questionnaire was delivered to Trial group only to assess the experience with Ortodontika application. The number of orthodontic urgencies and the number of accesses to the application for the Trial group were recorded in the time frames between follow-up appointments. Results: No significant between-group differences were found for MGI, BI and PI (p > 0.05), while significant within-group differences were found for BI and PI (p < 0.05). A significantly higher number of the cumulative orthodontic urgencies was found in the Control group (p < 0.05). The number of accesses to the application was higher in T0–T1 and T1–T2 time frames, even though with no withi-group differences (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found for the RPE and APP questionnaires (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Ortodontika application as an adjunct to verbal instruction could be useful for the reduction of RPE urgencies and as a reinforce for daily oral hygiene. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05539469.