Minimally invasive dentistry: Enhancing oral health related behaviour through behaviour change techniques

Provides an overview of the importance of behaviour change for minimally invasive dentistry. Outlines a model for delivering interventions to improve oral health related behaviour. Highlights the importance of the following three steps creating capability, motivation and providing opportunity in behaviour change. Enhancing patients' oral health related behaviour is a critical component of the preventive approach which is central to the practice of minimally invasive dentistry. The first step in the process of behaviour change is creating capability to change behaviour through the provision of information and guidance. The second step involves enhancing the motivation to change through emphasising the benefits of behaviour change and emphasising the individual patients' susceptibility or risk of oral disease. The third step seeks to put motivation into action through creating opportunities to practice oral health behaviour. Planning interventions are one approach to achieving this. This article outlines the techniques for carrying out these steps in practice.