Abstract
Background:
Comics are visual media that combine images and text to convey educational content. Their use in health education has gained increasing attention because they can simplify complex information, enhance engagement, and support learning, particularly among children.
Aim:
This scoping review aimed to map and summarise the use of comic-based interventions in oral health education and evaluate their reported outcomes across different populations and settings.
Methods:
A detailed search of eight databases was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines to identify peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and December 2025. Studies were included if comics were used as a central component of oral health education interventions.
Results:
Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies targeted school-age children and used pre- and post-test designs to evaluate educational outcomes. Comic-based interventions were associated with significant improvements in oral health knowledge and, in some cases, positive behavioural outcomes such as increased flossing and improved oral hygiene practices. Comparative studies suggested that comics performed similarly to, or better than, traditional educational approaches such as oral instruction, posters, and leaflets for knowledge outcomes. However, evidence regarding long-term behavioural and clinical effects remained limited.
Conclusion:
Comic-based educational interventions appear to be promising tools for improving oral health knowledge and supporting preventive behaviours, particularly in school and community settings. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and standardised evaluation methods to better understand their impact on sustained oral health behaviours.