Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2025

Publication Title

Journal of Dental Hygiene

Volume

99

Issue

3

Pages

65-70

Abstract

Dental caries is a complex, preventable disease that remains a global health burden. The burden of this disease has been shown to impact young children before the age of 6 years. Discussing dental caries prevention with the mother/caregiver(s) prior to childbirth is an ideal time to influence positive oral health behaviors. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a person-centered, goal-oriented, collaborative communication style that has been used to help individuals modify behaviors. The interrelated principles of partnership, acceptance, compassion, and evocation underpin the MI approach while utilizing communication skills such as asking open-ended questions, affirmation, reflective listening, and summarizing (OARS) to engage with the individual. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based communication approach used to assist individuals in modifying behaviors related to health, mental health, nutrition, substance use, and oral health. The integration of MI has shown promise when communicating with mothers/caregiver(s) about dental caries prevention among young children. The purpose of this short report is to describe the MI approach and its use in dental caries prevention for young children.

Rights

© 2025 American Dental Hygienists’ Association. All rights reserved.

Included with the kind written permission of the copyright holders.

Original Publication Citation

McKinney, D. C., Sullivan, M. L., & Alkhalifah, F. (2025). The use of motivational interviewing in preventing dental caries among young children. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 99(3), 65-70. https://jdh.adha.org/content/99/3/65

ORCID

0009-0006-0176-4856 (Sullivan), 0000-0002-3498-7048 (Alkhalifah)

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