Integration of Health Behaviour Theories in Dentistry: A Systematic Review

Oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss, can cause physical discomfort and contribute to functional limitations, which in turn affect psychological well-being and self-esteem. However, many of these oral health issues are largely preventable through regular oral hygiene practices and routine dental care. Various interventions based on health behavior theories have been proposed to enhance self-care and treatment compliance. In this systematic literature review, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of these theoretical frameworks in enhancing preventative dental care practices and improving treatment outcomes.

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane databases for studies published between January 2000 and December 2023. The search targeted studies applying health behavior theories in dental settings to enhance oral health outcomes. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional studies, and quasi-experimental designs with no geographical restrictions. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (reg. no. CRD42024590108). Two independent reviewers assessed paper quality using standard criteria, categorizing and screening the bias risk based on Scores.

The search yielded 9,896 records, of which 39 studies met the inclusion standards following screening and full-text review. These studies demonstrated diverse applications of health behavior theories across various populations and settings, ranging from motivational interviewing to the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The use of these theory-based interventions resulted in significant enhancements in oral health behaviors and clinical outcomes.

Interventions grounded in health behavior theories show promise in improving oral health outcomes and patient behaviors. Although our review focused on three primary theories (HBM, TPB, and SCT), theories such as HBM and TPB have been shown to have a more significant impact compared to other theories. While these findings highlight the value of evidence-based psychological frameworks, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution.