Abstract

Objective: Previous studies suggested the potential influence of YouTube videos regarding dentistry on the mass population. However, there was not any clear investigation for Korean population. We aimed to systemically analyze the type of the dentistry-related videos uploaded on YouTube Korea and the accounts used for uploading, and to assess their effect on the view count of the content. Methods: Classification, type of the accounts, and view count of the videos listed by the keyword ‘dentistry’ were analyzed, which were uploaded on YouTube Korea platform from September 2017 to April 2019. Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc analysis was used to assess the effect of the classification of the videos and the type of accounts on the view count. Results: 1.026 videos were enrolled to the analysis. Primary classification of the videos was information/education, advertisement, life, news, child contents, autonomous sensory meridian response, broadcast, cartoon/game, humor, and music. Secondary classification of the videos was dental experience, advertisement, role-playing, information/education., humor, cartoon/game, child contents, life, and broadcast. Type of the accounts was dentistry associates, general public, media company, and government office (sorted by frequency). Subject of the most videos (93.6%) was general public. There was statistically significance in the view count of the videos according to the primary and secondary classifications, the account used for uploading, and target subject of the videos. Conclusion: Dentists and their associates should recognize the importance of YouTube platform and try to monitor and intervene the dentistry-related contents, considering its huge impact on the general public.