#Wisdomteeth: an analysis of 100 social media posts and a survey on patient perception

Background The use of social media to broadcast healthcare-related communications continues to increase in popularity, with dentistry being no exception. Method We have analysed, in real-time over a period of six months, 100 posts on the social media platform Instagram which have used the hashtag '#wisdomteeth'.Results Fifty-one posts were posted by dentists/professional accounts. Sixty-four percent depicted removal of third molars and 12% included images related to third molar eruption or surgery for entertainment purposes. Eight percent featured advice related to complications of retaining third molars. Forty-nine posts collected were posted by patients or members of the public. Fifty-nine percent consisted of images showing patients recovering from third molar removal under a form of sedation and 21% with no indication of sedation being used. Four percent showed patients prior to third molar removal surgery. Imagery inferred for entertainment purposes made up 8%. In our patient survey, 68% of those asked claimed they used social media; however, only 32% had viewed oral surgery-related images on these platforms. The most popular site to view such images was Instagram. Of the ten patients who viewed such images, five had a positive reaction, while two had a negative reaction and three had a neutral reaction.Conclusions Our analysis shows multiple posts of invasive surgery without an advisory warning, which may be unsettling for viewers. There seems to be little regard for patient confidentiality with no mention of consent. Posts from patients mainly focus on the recovery from sedation with honest references to pain, swelling and altered sensation. This all plays a role in the public perception of third molar surgery and can impact on the way that the public views the profession.