Is Youtube™ A Reliable Source on Invisalign First® in Mixed Dentition?

Objective:Clear aligner systems, particularly Invisalign First®, have become an increasingly popular treatment option for children during the mixed dentition stage. With the growing reliance of patients and caregivers on digital platforms such as YouTube™ for health-related information, concerns about the accuracy and educational value of this content are becoming increasingly significant. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, usefulness, and reliability of YouTube™ videos discussing Invisalign First® for children. Methods:A systematic search was conducted on YouTube™ using the keywords “invisalign first” and “clear aligners and mixed dentition”. For each term, the first 185 English-language videos were collected, generating a total of 370 videos. Videos were included if they were uploaded between 22 May 2018 and 23 September 2023, in English, and provided information relevant to clear aligner use in children with mixed dentition. After applying exclusion criteria, 74 videos were selected for final evaluation. Each video was assessed independently by two experienced clinicians—a pediatric dentist and an orthodontist, each with 13 years of professional experience in orthodontic care for children in the mixed dentition. Videos were evaluated using the Global Quality Scale (GQS) and a 12-item usefulness score designed to measure the comprehensiveness and relevance of the educational content. Data collected from each video included length (in minutes), number of views, likes, dislikes, and days since upload. From these variables, the interaction index and viewing rate were calculated. The videos were categorized into four source groups:(1) Dental companies/clinics (2) Dentists/Orthodontists, (3) Laypersons, (4) Others. The intended target audience was classified as: (1) professional, (2) layperson, or (3) both. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to test the normality of numerical data. Non-normally distributed variables were analyzed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. A p-value of