Effectiveness of conventional versus game-based oral health education on oral hygiene performance of 12–15-year-old private school children in Jodhpur city: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Oral hygiene education is vital in preventing dental diseases. Game-based education methods are emerging as effective tools for engaging children and enhancing learning compared to traditional approaches. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of conventional versus game-based oral health education methods on the oral hygiene performance of 12–15-year-old private school children in Jodhpur city. Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted among 96 school children aged 12–15 years. Two private schools were randomly assigned to either the conventional education group or the game-based education group. Oral hygiene was assessed using the Debris Index-Simplified and Plaque Index at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 month postintervention. Results: Both groups showed improvement in oral hygiene scores over time, but the game-based group demonstrated significantly greater improvements at all follow-ups. Conclusion: Game-based oral health education is more effective in improving and maintaining oral hygiene performance among adolescents compared to conventional methods.