AzTrials
AzTrials

Tooth ExtractionCONNECTNCT07751822

Effectiveness of Telephonic and Digital Postoperative Follow-up Communication Strategies on Patient Compliance, Clinical Recovery, and Quality of Life After Dental Extraction

A study testing Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up, Digital Postoperative Follow-up and Standard Postoperative Care in people with Tooth Extraction and Postoperative Care, run by King Saud University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Effectiveness of Telephonic and Digital Postoperative Follow-up Communication Strategies on Patient Compliance, Clinical Recovery, and Oral Health-related Quality of Life Following Dental Extraction (CONNECT Study - CONtinuous post-operative NETwork Communication to Enhance Compliance after Tooth Extraction) Tooth… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up, Digital Postoperative Follow-up and Standard Postoperative Care
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
216 participants
Where
1 siteSaudi Arabia
Study dates
6 Aug 2026to Jul 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Inclusion Criteria - Participants must meet all of the following criteria:

Adults aged 18 years or older. Patients undergoing simple or surgical dental extraction under local anesthesia at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

Able to understand and communicate in Arabic or English. Own a smartphone with access to a mobile messaging application (e.g., WhatsApp) and be able to receive telephone calls.

Willing and able to provide written informed consent. Willing to comply with the study protocol and attend the scheduled postoperative follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria - Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:

Patients younger than 18 years of age. Patients unable to provide informed consent. Patients with cognitive impairment, psychiatric illness, or neurological disorders that may interfere with understanding or complying with postoperative instructions.

Patients with hearing or speech impairment preventing effective telephone communication.

Patients without access to a smartphone or unable to use mobile messaging applications independently.

Patients requiring hospital admission following dental extraction. Patients undergoing extraction under general anesthesia. Patients who are unwilling or unable to complete the scheduled follow-up assessments.

Patients participating in another clinical trial that may influence postoperative recovery or study outcomes.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Sundar Ramalingam contact

00966532092386

smunusamy@ksu.edu.sa

Saudi Arabia1 site
  • College of Dentistry and Dental University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City

    Riyadh, Riyadh Region, 11545

Other trials in Saudi Arabia

About this study

Official title: Effectiveness of Telephonic and Digital Postoperative Follow-up Communication Strategies on Patient Compliance, Clinical Recovery, and Oral Health-related Quality of Life Following Dental Extraction

Effectiveness of Telephonic and Digital Postoperative Follow-up Communication Strategies on Patient Compliance, Clinical Recovery, and Oral Health-related Quality of Life Following Dental Extraction

(CONNECT Study - CONtinuous post-operative NETwork Communication to Enhance Compliance after Tooth Extraction)

Read more

Tooth extraction is one of the most commonly performed dental procedures. Although most patients recover uneventfully, complications such as pain, swelling, bleeding, infection, and dry socket may occur if postoperative instructions are not followed correctly. Dentists routinely provide verbal and written instructions after tooth extraction; however, patients may forget or misunderstand these instructions once they leave the clinic, resulting in reduced compliance and delayed recovery.

Previous research conducted at our institution demonstrated that postoperative telephone follow-up improved patient compliance with post-extraction instructions compared with routine verbal and written instructions alone. Building on these findings, the present study aims to evaluate whether different methods of postoperative communication-including telephone calls, digital messaging, and a combination of both-can further improve patient compliance and clinical recovery following dental extraction.

Participants undergoing routine dental extraction will receive the standard postoperative verbal and written instructions provided by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Depending on the assigned study group, participants may also receive structured telephone follow-up, digital communication via a secure messaging platform, or both during the early postoperative period. The information provided through these communication methods will reinforce the same postoperative instructions routinely given in the clinic and will not alter the clinical treatment received.

Participants will be followed for one week after the extraction. Information will be collected regarding their adherence to postoperative instructions, pain levels, occurrence of complications such as dry socket, and oral health-related quality of life using validated questionnaires. These assessments will help determine whether additional postoperative communication improves patient recovery and overall treatment outcomes.

The study involves minimal risk because the communication methods are intended only to reinforce standard postoperative care and provide patients with an opportunity to clarify any concerns they may have during recovery. Participation in the study is entirely voluntary, and patients may withdraw at any time without affecting the quality of their dental treatment.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on the most effective postoperative communication strategy following dental extraction. This may help improve patient education, enhance compliance with postoperative instructions, reduce preventable complications, and support the integration of digital communication technologies into routine dental practice.

Being tested
Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up, Digital Postoperative Follow-up, Standard Postoperative Care
Keywords
Dental Extraction, Postoperative Follow-up, Patient Compliance, Telephonic Follow-up, Digital Health, WhatsApp, Patient Education, Oral Surgery, Randomized Controlled Trial, Oral Health-related Quality of Life, Postoperative Pain, Dry Socket
Medical subject headings
Patient Compliance, Pain, Postoperative, Dry Socket

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Telephonic Postoperative Follow-upBehavioural

    Telephonic postoperative follow-up consists of structured telephone calls delivered by trained study personnel during the first postoperative week following dental extraction. Calls reinforce routine postoperative instructions, assess patient understanding, encourage adherence to medications and self-care recommendations, address common postoperative concerns such as pain or bleeding, and provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions regarding their recovery. A standardized communication script will be used to ensure consistency across participants.

  • Digital Postoperative Follow-upBehavioural

    Digital postoperative follow-up consists of structured communication delivered through a secure mobile messaging platform during the first postoperative week following dental extraction. Participants will receive standardized reminder messages, educational infographics, and short instructional videos that reinforce routine postoperative instructions on medication adherence, oral hygiene, diet, saline mouth rinses, smoking avoidance, and management of common postoperative symptoms. Digital communication will follow a predefined schedule and standardized content to ensure uniformity across participants.

  • Standard Postoperative CareBehavioural

    Standard postoperative care consists of routine verbal instructions provided immediately after dental extraction, along with a standardized written instruction sheet. The instructions include guidance on bleeding control, medication adherence, oral hygiene, dietary recommendations, saline mouth rinses, smoking avoidance, and measures to promote uncomplicated healing. No additional structured telephonic or digital follow-up communication is provided beyond the routine postoperative review.

Study groups in NCT07751822
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Standard Postoperative CareActive comparatorParticipants allocated to this arm will receive the department's standard postoperative care following dental extraction, consisting of verbal postoperative instructions from the treating clinician and a standardized written instruction sheet. No additional telephonic or digital follow-up communication will be provided beyond the routine postoperative review. This arm serves as the reference group for comparison with the intervention arms.
Receives: Behavioral: Standard Postoperative Care
Telephonic Follow-upExperimentalParticipants allocated to this arm will receive standard postoperative verbal and written instructions in addition to structured telephone follow-up communication during the first postoperative week. Telephone calls will reinforce postoperative instructions, including adherence to medications, oral hygiene, dietary recommendations, saline mouth rinses, smoking cessation, and management of common postoperative concerns. The calls will also provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions regarding their recovery.
Receives: Behavioral: Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up
Digital Follow-upExperimentalParticipants allocated to this arm will receive standard postoperative verbal and written instructions together with structured digital follow-up communication during the first postoperative week. Digital communication will be delivered via a secure mobile messaging platform and will include reminder messages, educational infographics, and short instructional videos to reinforce routine postoperative instructions. Participants may also communicate questions related to their postoperative recovery through the same platform.
Receives: Behavioral: Digital Postoperative Follow-up
Hybrid Telephonic and Digital Follow-upExperimentalParticipants allocated to this arm will receive standard postoperative verbal and written instructions, along with structured telephone follow-up and digital communication during the first postoperative week. Telephone calls and digital educational materials will reinforce postoperative instructions and provide participants with opportunities to clarify concerns during recovery. This arm represents the highest level of postoperative communication support. It will be compared with the other study arms to evaluate its effectiveness in improving compliance, clinical recovery, and oral health-related quality of life.
Receives: Behavioral: Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up; Behavioral: Digital Postoperative Follow-up

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Patient compliance with postoperative instructions

    Patient compliance will be assessed using a structured postoperative compliance questionnaire evaluating adherence to standardized post-extraction instructions, including medication use, oral hygiene, saline mouth rinses, dietary recommendations, smoking avoidance, and clot protection. The total compliance score will be compared between the study groups.

    Measured: Postoperative Day 7

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Postoperative pain intensity

    Postoperative pain will be measured using a 10-cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents the worst imaginable pain.

    Measured: 6 hours, Postoperative Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7

  2. Incidence of alveolar osteitis (dry socket)

    The occurrence of alveolar osteitis will be assessed clinically using standardized diagnostic criteria, including increasing postoperative pain associated with partial or complete loss of the blood clot requiring clinical management.

    Measured: Postoperative Day 3 and Day 7

  3. Oral health-related quality of life

    Oral health-related quality of life will be assessed using the validated Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Changes in OHIP-14 scores from baseline will be compared among the study groups.

    Measured: Baseline (preoperative) and Postoperative Day 7

  4. Patient satisfaction with postoperative communication

    Participant satisfaction with the postoperative communication strategy will be evaluated using a structured questionnaire incorporating a five-point Likert scale assessing clarity of instructions, ease of communication, confidence during recovery, and overall satisfaction.

    Measured: Postoperative Day 7

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted7 Aug 2026
  2. Study start6 Aug 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionApr 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJul 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to one of four parallel study groups: (1) standard postoperative care (control), (2) telephonic follow-up, (3) digital postoperative follow-up, or (4) combined telephonic and digital follow-up. All participants will receive standard verbal and written postoperative instructions. The intervention groups will receive additional structured follow-up communication during the first postoperative week. Participants will remain in their assigned group throughout the study, and outcomes will be assessed at predefined follow-up intervals.
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
216 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07751822
Sponsor's protocol ID
E-22-6719
Acronym
CONNECT
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
3 Aug 2026
Last updated
7 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data will not be made publicly available due to participant confidentiality and institutional data protection policies. De-identified datasets may be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, subject to Institutional Review Board approval and applicable institutional regulations.

Publications

  • Ramalingam S, Alotaibi O, Alqudairy Z, Alnutaifi A, Alotaibi A. Effectiveness of Phone Call Follow-Ups in Improving Patient Compliance to Post-extraction Instructions: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus. 2022 Nov 14;14(11):e31499. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31499. eCollection 2022 Nov.

    PubMed 36532938

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Telephonic Postoperative Follow-up, Digital Postoperative Follow-up and Standard Postoperative Care in people with Tooth Extraction and Postoperative Care, run by King Saud University at 1 site in Saudi Arabia.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Saudi Arabia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Sundar Ramalingam (00966532092386, smunusamy@ksu.edu.sa), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Patient compliance with postoperative instructions (time frame: Postoperative Day 7). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07751822, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in