Are YouTube Videos a Reliable Source to Learn About the Use of Elastics (Rubber Bands) in Orthodontic Treatment?

about Elastics (Rubber Bands). Methods: Data collection involved using the search term "Rubber Bands" in the Google Trends app to identify YouTube videos related to elastics. The first 100 videos were reviewed, and 62 videos meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed. Video content was assessed using a 13-point scoring scale to classify videos into low, moderate, and high-content groups. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test, Post Hoc Bonferroni test, Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis, and Spearman correlation. Results: The majority of videos were categorized as low (56.5%), moderate (40.3%), and high (3.2%) content. Healthcare professionals uploaded the majority of the videos (77.4%). Among the topics covered in the videos, 'Instructions' (98.4%) was the most frequently mentioned, while 'Oral hygiene instructions' (1.6%) were least mentioned. Videos with moderate content had significantly higher Video Information and Quality Index (VIQI) Total Scores compared to low-content videos (P=.000). Conclusion: The content of the videos on the use of Elastic on YouTube™ is insufficient. To direct the patients to accurate information about the correct use of elastics and its importance, the clinician should be aware of the accuracy of the information on the internet. Keywords: Elastics, rubber bands, social media, YouTube