Difficulty of caregivers in performing oral hygiene for Patients with Special Needs, usually leads to demotivation and negligence. In order to adhere to healthy habits, an intervention model was created: Motivational Interview (MI). It consists of a collaborative conversation to strengthen motivation and commitment to change. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and legitimacy of MI in a single session on the oral health of children with special needs, unable to perform their hygiene. Methods: Exploratory study with paired randomization, double-blind, including caregivers of patients aged 2 to 19 years treated at the Physical and Motor Rehabilitation Center of IMIP/Recife-Brazil. Caregivers were allocated to a test (Motivational Interview) or control (Traditional Counseling) group. In t0, they answered questionnaires, and the child's dental chart and Visible Plaque Index (VPI) were filled. MI group participated in a 10 min Motivational Interview involving guidance on brushing techniques and making mouth openers. TC group attended a lecture addressing the same theme. In t1, questionnaires were reapplied, followed by a new VPI and dental chart, in addition to a satisfaction survey regarding the methodology used. Results: After 30 days, the MI group showed a decrease in VPI when comparing the medians (14.70 vs. 10.71) and an increase in the frequency of daily brushing to 03 x or more (44.4 % vs. 77.8 %), while the TC group remained practically stable (8.75 vs. 10.71 and 28.6), but with no statistically significant difference between groups (p = 5 %). Both legitimized the workshop as a pleasurable activity (100 %) and felt motivated after completion (TC = 85.7 %, MI = 100 %). Conclusion: A single session of MI reduced VPI from disabled children, however, without proving to be more effective than Traditional Counseling.