Temporomandibular disorders-related videos on YouTube are unreliable sources of medical information: A cross-sectional analysis of quality and content.

Objective: The amount of online medical information available is rapidly growing and YouTube is considered as the most popular source of healthcare information nowadays. However, no study has been conducted to comprehensively evaluate YouTube videos related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). So this study aimed to evaluate the content and quality of YouTube videos as a source of medical information on TMD. Method: A total of 237 YouTube videos that were systematically searched using five keywords (temporomandibular disorders, tmd, temporomandibular joint, tmj, and jaw joint) were included. Included videos were categorized by purpose and source for analysis. The quality (DISCERN, Health on the Net (HON), Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP), and Global Quality Scale (GQS)) and scientific accuracy of video contents were evaluated. Results: Total content, DISCERN, HON, EQIP, and GQS scores were 7.5%, 38.9%, 35.2%, 53.0%, and 48.6% of the maximum possible score, respectively. Only 69 videos (29.1%) were considered as "useful" for patients. News media, physician, and medical source videos showed higher evaluation scores than others. Quality evaluation scores were not significantly correlated or negatively correlated with public preference indices. In the ROC curve analysis, content and DISCERN score showed above excellent discrimination ability for high-quality videos based on GQS (P < 0.001) and total score (P < 0.001). Conclusions: YouTube videos related to TMD contained low quality and scientifically inaccurate information that could negatively influence patients with TMD.

The effect of mucosal dryness on the electrogustometric threshold.

Electrogustometry (EGM) is one of the most useful diagnostic tools widely used to evaluate the taste function by measuring the perception threshold to electrogustatory stimuli on the tongue. However, the effects of oral environments on electrogustometric threshold (EGMT) remain to be established despite its simple applicability. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect of mucosal dryness on EGMT in 68 healthy subjects. The experiment was conducted in two different conditions. First, the baseline EGMT was measured when the dryness of the tongue surface was normal. Second, the EGMT was remeasured after the tongue was intentionally desiccated. The current study showed that the mean of the EGMT was significantly increased when the tongue was desiccated, possibly indicating the reduced sensitivity to electrogustatory stimuli. Such an alteration may be related to the disturbed EGM electrical circuit through the dried mucosa with enhanced impedance. Thus, these findings suggested that mucosal dryness should be considered for better evaluation of gustatory function using EGM.

Comparison of immunohistochemical analysis on sinus augmentation using demineralized tooth graft and bovine bone.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this animal research was to compare bone regeneration in augmented rabbit maxillary sinuses treated with demineralized particulate human-tooth graft and anorganic bovine bone by immunohistochemical analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Piezoelectric bilateral sinus augmentation was performed in eight adult rabbits. In the control group, anorganic bovine was grafted in the maxillary sinus following elevation of the sinus membrane. In the experimental group, demineralized human particulate tooth bone was grafted in the sinus. Bone regeneration in augmented sinuses was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis using various markers of osteoprogenitor cells. RESULTS: The number of bromodeoxyuridine-labeled cells was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at eight weeks. The immunoreactivity of proliferating-cell nuclear antigen was increased slightly in the experimental group relative to the control group at eight weeks. Other bone markers were expressed equally in the two groups. CONCLUSION: In the rabbit maxillary sinus, higher osteoinduction was correlated with demineralized human particulate tooth bone grafting than with anorganic bovine grafting.

Upper cervical spine abnormalities as a radiographic index in the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) according to the presence of upper cervical spine abnormalities and craniofacial morphology. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical examinations were conducted on 43 patients with TMD. Upper cervical spine characteristics (fusion, posterior arch deficiency [PAD], and craniofacial morphology) reflecting head-and-neck posture were evaluated on lateral cephalograms. Condylar bone changes in the temporomandibular joint were evaluated by using cone beam computed tomography. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes after 1 year of conservative therapy were statistically analyzed between groups, according to the presence of upper cervical spine abnormalities. RESULTS: Pain on neck muscle palpation was more frequent in patients with cervical fusion (P = .019) and with either fusion or PAD (P = .004) before treatment. Patients with PAD had smaller comfortable mouth opening ranges compared with those without the deficiency (P = .044) before treatment and smaller comfortable (P = .020) and maximum (P = .021) mouth opening ranges after treatment. Patients with PAD also had mouth opening limitation (P = .028) and pain on masticatory muscle palpation (P = .014) more frequently after treatment compared with patients without the deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Associations exist between upper cervical spine characteristics and treatment outcomes in patients with TMD, suggesting such parameters as a possible radiographic index in TMD diagnosis and treatment.

Quality and readability of online information on dental treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: To evaluate quality and readability of online information on dental treatment for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. METHODS: An Internet search was done using three engines (Bing, Google, and Yahoo) with the combination of terms, "snoring sleep apnea dental treatment". The first 100 sites from the search of each engine were screened. Subject sites were evaluated with Health on the Net(HON) criteria, Journal of American Medical Association(JAMA) benchmarks, DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients(EQIP), Flesch-Kincaid Grade level and Flesch Reading Ease(FRE) score. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty websites were evaluated. The HON, DISCERN, EQIP, and FRE score were each 39.4%, 47.3%, 49.7%, and 51.6% of the maximum possible score, respectively. According to JAMA benchmarks fewer than 50% of the sites displayed attribution and currency. There was only one site displaying the HON seal. HON score, DISCERN score and EQIP score showed significant inter-correlation. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, the current quality and readability of searchable websites on dental treatment for snoring and sleep apnea are low and poorly maintained on average. Clinicians should be able to evaluate and give accurate online information on this issue to patients.

Antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor positivity in temporomandibular disorders.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the differences in clinical characteristics and long-term treatment outcomes according to antinuclear antibody(ANA) and rheumatoid factor(RF) positivity and the correlation between pain-related and hematological indices in temporomandibular disorders(TMD) patients. METHODS: Clinical examinations were done following the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD in 257 patients. Comprehensive screening along with psychological and hematological evaluations (ANA, RF, complete blood cell count, C-reactive protein[CRP] and erythrocyte sedimentation rate[ESR]) were conducted. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes were statistically compared between ANA/RF positive and negative groups. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients showed ANA/RF positivity. Male patients had smaller comfortable mouth opening(CMO)(p = 0.033) and maximum mouth opening(MMO)(p = 0.016) ranges with more painful neck muscles on palpation when RF/ANA positive. Pain duration, intensity, disability days and psychological distress levels were also higher in RF/ANA positive male patients. Significant correlation was shown in ESR with pain duration(p < 0.05) and numeric rating scale(NRS) before treatment(p < 0.05), CRP with NRS before treatment(p < 0.01), and red blood cell (RBC) with pain intensity(p < 0.05), NRS before treatment(p < 0.01), CMO(p < 0.01), pain on palpation of cervical muscles(p < 0.01), CMO(p < 0.05), and MMO(p < 0.05) 6 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results may point towards a nonspecific autoimmune disposition in a subgroup of TMD patients. RF and ANA could be considered as a screening test for the detection of autoimmune phenomena in TMD.

Quality and readability of internet-based information on halitosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality and readability of Internet-based information on halitosis. STUDY DESIGN: An Internet search through 3 engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) was done with the terms ("bad breath," "halitosis," "oral malodor," "foul breath," "mouth malodor," "breath malodor," "fetor ex ore," "fetor oris," "ozostomia," and "stomatodysodia"). The first 50 websites from each engine resulting from each search term were screened. Included websites were evaluated using Health on the Net (HON) criteria, Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, DISCERN, Ensuring Quality Information for Patients (EQIP), Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score, and Flesch-Kincaid Grade level. RESULTS: A total of 101 websites were included. HON, DISCERN, EQIP, and FRE score were 42.9%, 37.6%, 37.4%, and 51.9% of the maximum score, respectively. Fewer than 50% of sites displayed attribution, disclosure, and currency according to JAMA benchmarks. HON score, DISCERN score, and EQIP score had significant correlation with each other and were significantly higher in sites displaying the HON seal. CONCLUSION: The current quality and readability of informative websites on halitosis are generally low and poorly organized. Clinicians should be able to assess the Internet-based information on halitosis, as well as give accurate advice and guide patients concerning this issue.