Educational quality and reliability of social media videos on MTA apexification and root-end filling: A cross-platform analysis

Objectives: Online video-sharing platforms have become important supplementary learning resources in dental education. Procedures involving Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), particularly apexification and root-end filling, are frequently demonstrated through social media and video-based platforms. However, the educational quality and reliability of such content remain largely unregulated and may vary across platforms. Aim: To evaluate and compare the educational quality and reliability of videos on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook related to MTA apexification and root-end filling. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study examined English-language videos showcasing MTA application in apexification and root-end filling procedures. The videos were identified using specific search terms on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook between 15 May and 15 June 2025, and then screened against a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Educational quality was rated with the Modified Global Quality Score (GQS), and reliability was measured using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria. Three calibrated endodontists independently evaluated all videos, and Cohen’s kappa was used to assess inter-rater agreement. Data analysis involved non-parametric tests, including Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, Chi-square, and Spearman correlation, with significance at p < 0.05. Results: Out of the 48 videos initially identified, 37 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis (YouTube: n=18, Instagram: n=9, Facebook: n=10). The overall average educational quality score was 3.82 ± 0.86, reflecting moderate-to-good educational value. YouTube videos had the highest mean scores on the GQS (4.07 ± 0.73) and JAMA (1.09 ± 1.08). Educational quality did not significantly differ across platforms ( p = 0.180), but reliability scores varied significantly ( p = 0.014), with YouTube showing higher reliability than Facebook (p = 0.015). Only 8.1% of videos achieved an acceptable reliability level (JAMA ≥3), while 75.7% were rated as high educational quality (GQS ≥4). Inter-rater agreement was almost perfect for JAMA assessment (κ = 0.912) but only fair for GQS assessment (κ = 0.357), reflecting greater subjectivity in evaluating educational quality. Conclusion: Videos related to MTA apexification and root-end filling generally demonstrated moderate-to-high educational quality but limited reliability and transparency. Although YouTube exhibited higher reliability than Facebook, deficiencies in authorship, attribution, disclosure, and currency were common across all platforms. These findings indicate that perceived educational value should not be interpreted as evidence of scientific reliability and highlight the need for evidence-based, professionally curated digital educational resources in endodontics.