Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
The Internet versus pediatricians as a source of infant teething information for parents in Turkey
Eda Haznedaroglu1, Ali Mentes1
1Marmara University, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Basibuyuk Campus, 9/3 34854 Basibuyuk, Maltepe/Istanbul/Turkey.
Insights
Pediatricians and Turkish websites offer varied infant teething advice. Health professionals should ensure parents receive accurate information on teething signs and management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Health Communication
- Digital Health
Background:
- Parents increasingly use the internet for child healthcare information.
- Online health information quality varies significantly.
- Understanding online vs. professional advice on infant teething is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare infant teething information from Istanbul pediatricians with Turkish websites.
- Evaluate the quality and comprehensiveness of online teething content.
- Assess pediatrician recommendations for teething symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive design with checklists for 62 parenting/health websites.
- Cross-sectional study of 75 public hospital pediatricians.
- Structured self-administered questionnaires for pediatricians.
Main Results:
- 87.1% of websites described teething as normal.
- Websites cited fever and drooling as common signs.
- Pediatrician recommendations for teething management varied, with some recommending nothing.
Conclusions:
- Health professionals must inform parents about specific teething treatment strategies.
- Standardized, evidence-based information is needed for online health resources.
- Bridging the gap between online and professional advice is essential for optimal infant care.
Objectives:
Parents are increasingly searching the Internet to gather information about their children's health care. This study compared infant teething information obtained from publically employed pediatricians in Istanbul with that obtained from different Turkish websites (parenting, health, professional, news and commercial).
Methods:
This study had two parts. The first part used a descriptive design, with two checklists to assess the quality and comprehensiveness of the teething-specific content on 62 parenting or health websites. The second part was a cross-sectional study of 75 pediatricians at public hospitals who completed a structured self-administered questionnaire.
Results:
In total, 54 websites (87.1%) described infant teething as a normal developmental process. The lists that were found on the websites identified the most frequent signs of infant teething as fever and drooling/perioral rash. The most frequent management strategies were chewing non-chilled and chilled objects. For teething problems, some pediatricians recommended teething rings and oral benzocaine, while 23 pediatricians recommended nothing.
Conclusions:
Parents should be informed by health professionals, especially regarding specific treatment strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management
01:14Assessing Body Temperature - Oral
Step 1:
Start by practicing proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of microorganisms.
Step 2:
Take the thermometer out of the charging unit, switch it on, and wait for the ready sign.
Step 3:
Gently slide the probe cover until a click is heard. This simple action prevents cross-contamination and ensures the correct placement of the probe cover.
Step 4:
Instruct the patient to open their mouth and place...
01:16Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
Weaning, typically occurring...
01:11Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...