Background: Traditional oral health education is seldom enough in order for dental care personnel to motivate their patients to good, long-lasting oral health care habits and there is a need for evaluation of other more efficient methods. One of these methods is motivational interviewing. An overview of its origin, definition, theoretical background and practical methods is given by way of introduction. Aim: The aim of the investigation was to review studies that had used motivational interviewing in order to obtain oral health, focusing on prevention and treatment of gingivitis, periodontitis and dental caries. Method: Systematic review. A search question was run through the databases ASSIA, ERIC, PsycINFO, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts and PubMed. The articles were reviewed based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Five publications (based on three studies) met the inclusion criteria. Four of these (two of the studies) reported better outcomes for the intervention than the comparative method, both in short and long term. The fifth article had overall no clinically significant differences to report between intervention and control groups. As a result of the small amount of studies in addition to some methodological questions, no evidence is found regarding the use of motivational interviewing in dental care. Conclusion: There are too few studies of motivational interviewing within the area of dental care in order for any conclusions to be drawn and more studies are needed, preferably in a setting as close to the clinical everyday life as possible and with both objective and subjective outcome measures. The follow up period should be as extended as possible, and studies investigating the cost efficacy of the method are also required.