Mantra

Do mantras usually work to dream about a specific thing?

Usually for some people. Frequently for others. Not always, though.

It also helps if while reciting your mantra you visualize what you would like to dream of. Like how it looks, how it may feel around you, smell, taste, etc. it helps a lot. Mantras have brought me some success with lucid dreaming. Nearly all my LDs were aided by a mantra.

I certainly think so. If not for regular dreams, then for lucid dreams, which, if they induce a lucid dream, you can dream that certain thing by intention/control.

I've had interesting success with mantra in LDs. Try repeating a mantra and letting a "higher" part of yourself take over the dream.