Has the COVID-19 pandemic altered the frequency of periodontitis? An analysis conducted using Google trends

Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the frequency of searches for the word "periodontitis" on the internet in the period after SARS-CoV-2 infection and in the previous period, using GT (Google Trends), and in this way to indirectly determine whether there is a relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and periodontitis. Methods: Using the GT online tool in randomly selected countries and around the world, the word "periodontitis" and the word equivalent to the word "periodontitis" in the language of that country were scanned for a 4-year period before and after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and compared. Results: The M (Mean) of the RSV data of the word "periodontitis" worldwide in the pre-Covid period (between 2015-2019) in Google Trends was detected as 64.11±7.85, MD (Median) was 63, and min and max were 44 and 100, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, it has been determined that the level of internet searches for the word "periodontitis" has increased compared to the pre-SARS-CoV-2 period since the first occurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. This study may provide a causal basis for subsequent clinical studies on this subject.