Motivational interviewing concepts and the relationship to risk management and patient counseling.

A brief version of motivational interviewing, a patient-centered counseling technique, has been found to be effective in reducing caries in high-risk young children. Motivational interviewing principles are discussed, examples of motivational interviewing interactions are provided, and the concept of readiness is presented in this paper. Dental professionals using caries management by risk assessment can readily use motivational interviewing strategies to reduce risks.