Youtube(TM) Content Analysis as a Means of Information in Oral Medicine: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: Oral medicine represents a complex branch of dentistry, involved in diagnosing and managing a wide range of disorders. Youtube(TM) offers a huge source of information for users and patients affected by oral diseases. This systematic review aims to evaluate the reliability of Youtube(TM) oral medicine-related content as a valid dissemination aid. Methods: The MeSH terms “Youtube(TM)” and “oral” have been searched by three search engines (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library), and a systematic review has been performed; the PRISMA checklist has been followed in the search operations. Results: Initial results were 210. Ten studies definitely met our selection criteria. Conclusions: Youtube(TM) represents a dynamic device capable of easy and rapid dissemination of medical-scientific content. Nevertheless, the most of information collected in the literature shows a lack of adequate knowledge and the need to utilize a peer-reviewing tool in order to avoid the spreading of misleading and dangerous content.