This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an electronic-based personalised education approach for caries prevention in lower socioeconomic groups – who are known to have a greater burden of dental caries than higher socioeconomic groups – by conducting an evaluator-blind randomised controlled study in Cork.

The caries risk profile of the study participants was assessed at baseline and after 6 months using a software programme specifically developed for caries risk assessment (Cariogram). Over 24 weeks, weekly personalised educational text messages on caries prevention were sent to the Test group while the Control group received non-personalised educational text messages.

Personalisation was based on the individual caries risk profiles of the Test group participants. It was expected that personalised education would be more effective at lowering caries risk than non-personalised education. If successful, this electronic-based education approach has the potential to provide effective personalised patient education not only for dental caries but other oral and lifestyle related diseases with individual variability.

This project was funded by the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) / Unilever Social Entrepreneur Approach to Change Oral Health Behaviour Research Award.

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