Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends

Mehmet Murat Taşkan; Elif Sırma Taşkan

Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the reliability, quality, readability, and infodemiological profile of online information on dental implant surgery across web pages and video-sharing platforms. Methods: A global cross-sectional analysis was conducted using Google Search, YouTube, and Google Trends data. Searches were performed for implant-related terms including “dental implant surgery,” “dental implant risks,” “dental implant cost,” and “all-on-4 dental implants.” A total of 360 online sources were analyzed: 240 websites and 120 YouTube videos. Website and video quality were assessed using the 16-item DISCERN instrument (score range, 16-80), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria (score range, 0-4), the Global Quality Scale (GQS; score range, 1-5), an implant-specific content completeness score (score range, 0-12), and readability indices. Google Trends relative search volume (RSV) data from 2019 to 2025 were used to describe public interest patterns. Results: Websites showed higher reliability than videos according to DISCERN scores, but overall quality remained moderate to low for both formats. Mean DISCERN scores were 43.6±12.4 for websites and 34.9±11.7 for videos (p<0.001). Academic and professional society sources had the highest quality scores, whereas commercial and clinic-marketing sources had significantly lower scores (p<0.001). Only 18.3% of all sources were classified as high quality. Information on cost was common, whereas complications, peri-implantitis, alternative treatments, maintenance, and long-term prognosis were frequently incomplete. Readability exceeded the recommended patient level in most sources. Google Trends showed a marked increase in searches for “dental implant cost” and “all-on-4 dental implants,” particularly after 2021. Conclusion: Online information on dental implant surgery is widely available but often incomplete, commercially weighted, and difficult for patients to interpret. Clinician-guided digital literacy and evidence-based online resources are needed.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that this study received no financial support.

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted based on the analysis of publicly available online content. Since it does not contain personal data, patient records, or individual health information, it does not require ethical committee approval.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Periodontics, Epidemiology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mehmet Murat Taşkan ^*
0000-0002-4830-0075
Türkiye

Elif Sırma Taşkan
0009-0006-5074-1634
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 16, 2026

Submission Date

April 30, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 8, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Taşkan, M. M., & Taşkan, E. S. (2026). Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(4), 780-786. https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT

AMA

1.Taşkan MM, Taşkan ES. Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(4):780-786. https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT

Chicago

Taşkan, Mehmet Murat, and Elif Sırma Taşkan. 2026. “Digital Information Quality in Dental Implant Surgery: A Global Cross-Sectional Study of Reliability, Readability, and Infodemiological Trends”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (4): 780-86. https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT.

EndNote

Taşkan MM, Taşkan ES (July 1, 2026) Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 4 780–786.

IEEE

[1]M. M. Taşkan and E. S. Taşkan, “Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 780–786, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT

ISNAD

Taşkan, Mehmet Murat - Taşkan, Elif Sırma. “Digital Information Quality in Dental Implant Surgery: A Global Cross-Sectional Study of Reliability, Readability, and Infodemiological Trends”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/4 (July 1, 2026): 780-786. https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT.

JAMA

1.Taşkan MM, Taşkan ES. Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:780–786.

MLA

Taşkan, Mehmet Murat, and Elif Sırma Taşkan. “Digital Information Quality in Dental Implant Surgery: A Global Cross-Sectional Study of Reliability, Readability, and Infodemiological Trends”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 780-6, https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT.

Vancouver

1.Mehmet Murat Taşkan, Elif Sırma Taşkan. Digital information quality in dental implant surgery: a global cross-sectional study of reliability, readability, and infodemiological trends. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;8(4):780-6. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA46WP55BT