Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Improving Gum Health Among Older Adults Using AI Based mHealth for Personalized OHI

Hong Kong88 participantsStarted 2025-09-10

Plain-language summary

Background: Many older adults in Hong Kong lack thorough tooth cleaning and regular dental check-ups, which can lead to plaque-induced gum diseases and systemic health issues. A self-developed Mobile Health (mHealth) system, which utilizes smartphone photographs and artificial intelligence (AI), has been shown to accurately detect gum health. Personalized oral hygiene instruction (POHI) can then be provided based on the detected results. Objectives: 1. To improve gum health among non-institutionalized older adults using mHealth and POHI. 2. To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of mHealth and POHI in improving gum health. Hypothesis: The personalized oral hygiene instruction (OHI) in addition to AI based mHealth provided by volunteer social workers can improve clinical effectiveness and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). Design and subjects: 88 older adults will be recruited from daycare centers, who will receive bi-weekly POHI based on their gum condition, detected by mHealth which is provided by trained volunteers. Two calibrated assessors will assess the participants' gum health, oral hygiene, caries, dental plaque, and structured questionnaire at baseline, after 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 1 year Study Instruments: Gingival Index, Plaque Index, International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) code, dental plaque microbiology, and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) + Structured Questionnaire. Interventions: Personalized oral hygiene instruction using AI-powered mHealth provided by trained volunteers bi-weekly Main Outcomes: Gingival condition, Oral hygiene status, Dental plaque microbiology, and oral health-related quality of life. Data analysis: t-tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum test will compare pre- and post-intervention data. Expected Result: The use of mHealth and POHI provided by trained volunteers bi-weekly can lead to improved gum health among older adults.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects aged ≥60 years and able to give informed consent: * Subjects who are mentally and cognitively healthy * Subjects who have at least 20 anterior maxillary or mandibular natural teeth including incisors and canine. * Subjects who can speak, read, or understand Cantonese for complete the satisfaction questionnaire. * Subjects who can practice oral hygiene procedure (regular tooth brushing and interdental cleansing/flossing/brushing) daily on their own independently. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who have less than 20 anterior maxillary or mandibular natural teeth with or without dental prostheses in those area. * Subjects who have mental illness, or similar problems that unable to complete the satisfaction questionnaire. * Subjects who cannot perform oral hygiene procedure (regular tooth brushing and interdental cleansing/flossing/brushing) by any condition of oral cavity such as tumor or maxillomandibular fixation. * Subjects who cannot attend weekly oral hygiene instruction at centers.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Plaque Index

Timeframe: From enrollment (Baseline) Vs 3 months Vs 6 months Vs 9 months Vs 1 year

Gingival Index

Timeframe: From enrollment (Baseline) Vs 3months Vs 6 months Vs 9 months Vs 1 year

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07187453

SponsorThe University of Hong Kong

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Gum Inflammation trials