Quality Assessment and Review of Online Information relating to Third Molar Pain and Removal

Abstract

##Statement of the problem: Dental professionals have embraced the internet as a means to enhance patient care and optimise access to dental services. However, dental information present on the internet is unregulated and varies in quality, accuracy and readability. ##Purpose of the study: This paper aims to assess the quality of the information online relating to third molars. Materials and methods: Two key terms (wisdom tooth pain and wisdom tooth extraction) were entered into Google, Yahoo and Bing search engines. Websites were assessed using the DISCERN and the HoNCode instruments. ##Results: A total of 60 websites were assessed. 2 websites were excluded in accordance with the exclusion criteria and 15 duplicate websites were excluded, leaving 43 unique sites. In the websites addressing “wisdom tooth pain” the average HoNCode score awarded was 40% (range 13-72%) while the average DISCERN score awarded was 43(range 24-70). In the websites addressing “wisdom tooth extraction” the average HoNCode score awarded was 35%(range 15-75%) while the average DISCERN score awarded was 35(range 25-69). ##Conclusions: The overall quality of the websites assessed is fair. This result shows that the reasonable patient may be misinformed by Internet sources on material risks. Clinicians should be aware of tools such as DISCERN and HoNCode and utilise them in the development of online content for their own practice.