YouTube is an increasingly accessible source of dental education, but the absence of expert review raises questions about the quality and reliability of the information provided. This is particularly relevant to practice-oriented subjects such as dental photography, for which videos may provide instruction on techniques. New research suggests that dental professionals should approach YouTube videos offering dental photography training with caution.

The study evaluated 113 English-language YouTube videos using three established instruments for assessing the quality and reliability of online information. The results were concerning. All three measures indicated that the videos were of generally low educational quality and reliability. The authors noted that clear authorship information, reference citations, and information indicating whether content was current were frequently absent. The researchers stressed that the study did not determine whether the techniques shown were correct or complied with dental photography protocols.

Videos uploaded by dentists or clinicians scored significantly better than those uploaded by health websites and organisations. Videos from academic institutions also achieved relatively strong scores, but accounted for only nine videos.

The study found positive associations between quality scores and views, likes, and engagement. However, the authors noted that viewership and engagement could not be explained solely by content quality.

For clinicians and students, the message is straightforward: YouTube should be used cautiously as a supplementary learning resource, but cannot replace structured, evidence-based training. This is consistent with previous research in dental education. The authors of the study concluded that there is a need for dental professionals and academic institutions to produce more structured, better referenced and up-to-date online educational content.

The study was published online in BMC Oral Health.

From: https://www.dental-tribune.com/news/can-dentists-trust-youtube-for-dental-photography-training/.