Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42053901›Full record

Trial reportEuropean archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry2026

Improving oral health communication in paediatric dentistry using intraoral scanners: a multicentre pilot study.

S Schick, M A Schlenz, N Schulz-Weidner, C Frese, A Pelkonen, T Tanner

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

S SchickClinic for Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany. simona.schick@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
M A SchlenzUniversity Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Department of Prosthodontics, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany.
N Schulz-WeidnerDental Clinic - Department of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
C FreseClinic for Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Diseases, Department of Conservative Dentistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
A PelkonenCariology, Endodontology and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Population Health, Oulu, Finland and The Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia, Pohde, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
T TannerCariology, Endodontology and Paediatric Dentistry, Research Unit of Population Health, Oulu, Finland and The Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia, Pohde, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis multicentre pilot study examined whether intraoral scanners (IOS) enhance oral health competence in paediatric patients and their caregivers compared with conventional verbal oral health instructions (OHI).

methodsSixty children aged 6-14 years and their caregivers from three European university centres were randomly assigned to a control group (verbal OHI) or an intervention group (verbal OHI + IOS visualisation). Children were stratified into age groups: (6-8, 9-11, 12-14 years). Calibrated dentists performed standardised examinations and delivered OHI. In the intervention arm, an IOS scan was obtained and the 3D model was used to explain individual clinical findings. Comprehension of clinical findings was assessed after the consultation using age-adapted questionnaires. Children in the intervention group additionally rated their IOS experience using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-100%). Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

resultsChildren in the intervention group achieved higher comprehension scores (4.40 ± 1.61 vs. 3.33 ± 1.81; p = 0.019). Caregivers also scored higher in the intervention group (5.03 ± 1.25 vs. 4.10 ± 1.37; p = 0.008). Benefits were greatest in children aged 6-11 years. VAS ratings indicated acceptance: scanning was perceived as "fun" (83.8%), "informative" (81.3%) and "enjoyable to watch" (88.6%). Tip size was rated appropriate (68.7%), whilst agreement with "boring" (25.9%) and "painful" (24.1%) was low. The dentist's explanation was rated as clear (94.8%).

conclusionIOS improved communication and understanding of oral health findings in paediatric dentistry, particularly amongst younger children and their caregivers.

Indexed as

CommunicationDental Care for ChildrenOral HealthPediatric DentistryAdolescentChildComprehensionFemaleHumansMalePilot ProjectsClinical studyDigital dentistryIntraoral scannersOral healthPaediatric dentistryPreventive dentistry

Identifiers

PMID42053901
PMCPMC13593785

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.