How useful are YouTube videos on labial frenectomy? A quality review

The labial frenulum plays a crucial role in oral health, and its surgical removal, known as frenectomy, is often necessary for various dental and orthodontic conditions. This study evaluated the quality and educational value of YouTube videos on labial frenectomy, highlighting potential misinformation risks in online health resources.

A cross-sectional study was conducted via the search term "labial frenectomy" on YouTube, and 68 relevant videos were identified on the basis of predefined criteria. Content quality and credibility were evaluated via the total content score (TCS), video information and quality index (VIQI), modified DISCERN, global quality scale (GQS), Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and Health on the Net Code (HONcode). The data were analyzed with the Kolmogorov‒Smirnov, Kruskal‒Wallis, and Bonferroni correction. Numerical variables were examined via Spearman's rho and point‒biserial correlation, whereas categorical variables were assessed via chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

TCS was positively correlated with GQS (r = 0.392; p < 0.001), VIQI (r = 0.379; p < 0.001), and modified DISCERN (r = 0.396; p < 0.001), indicating that higher-quality videos received better scores. The GQS was strongly correlated with the VIQI (r = 0.747), modified DISCERN (r = 0.711), and HONcode (r = 0.721; p < 0.001). A significant association was observed between TCS and presenter gender (p = 0.03), with higher-quality content more frequently found in videos featuring female presenters.

YouTube videos on labial frenectomy generally provide low- to moderate-quality content and often lack reliability and medical accuracy. While they offer basic educational value, they should not replace professional guidance. Healthcare professionals should direct patients toward expert-reviewed, evidence-based sources to ensure comprehensive and accurate medical information.