Self-Determined Motivation, Oral Hygiene Behavior, Oral Health, and Oral Health–Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Abstract Self-determination theory (SDT) studies in the field of oral health behavior, oral health, and oral health–related quality of life have been summarized in this chapter. The results demonstrate that interventions (randomized clinical trials) designed to promote autonomy-supportive dental competence, relative to standard care, yield increases of autonomous motivation, perceived dental competence, and oral hygiene behaviors (e.g., brushing, flossing, more regular meals), decreases in dental plaque, and improved oral health. Moreover, these interventions are associated with more frequent dental attendance and oral health–related quality of life. The active elements of the interventions performed are related to (1) dental hygienist support of patients’ psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness; (2) increases in autonomous motivation; and (3) increases in perceived dental competence. In the tested SDT process models, these elements mediated the effects from the intervention to increases in dental behavior, which mediated the effects from autonomous motivation and perceived dental competence to decreases in dental plaque, which, in turn, mediated the effect from dental behavior to improvements in oral health. Hence, the described autonomy-supportive dental competence intervention is recommended as an evidence-based alternative that belongs in the education syllabus for dental hygienist students.