Analysis of YouTube Videos on Bruxism in Children and Adults

Aim: This study aimed to assess the reliability, quality, and content of YouTube videos that cover topics such as the definition, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of bruxism. Material and Methods: A YouTube search was conducted using the keywords “bruxism,” “teeth clenching and grinding,” and “bruxism in children.” YouTube videos were examined using four analysis techniques: interaction index, quality score of video content, Global Quality Scale (GQS), and DISCERN reliability analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS 25, and significance was set at P< 0.05 level. Results: Of the first 180 videos scanned, 109 were included in the analysis. We observed that videos were frequently produced by professional sources (90.8%). However, the mean interaction index of videos uploaded from individual sources (2.07±0.93) was higher than videos uploaded by hospitals/institutions (1.18±2.06). Although interest in videos uploaded by individual sources is high, the reliability of such videos (1.00±0.94) was lower than sources uploaded by hospital institutions (1.53±1.05) and dentists/health professionals (1.63±0.66). Videos with a duration of >6 min have a higher DISCERN score than those with a duration of ≤6 min. In the videos, 41.79% of the etiological factors were psychological factors, 34.32% were systemic disorders, and 18.65% were malocclusion. In terms of treatment methods, occlusal splint applications (33.7%) and preventive treatments (18.78%) were the most commonly mentioned approaches. Conclusion: The reliability and quality of YouTube videos on bruxism are inadequate. Health professionals should increase the usefulness of digital platforms by sharing reliable and comprehensive videos.