Evaluation of the content quality and reliability of YouTube videos on endodontic retreatment

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the content, educational quality, and reliability of YouTube videos on endodontic retreatment to determine their usefulness for patients, students, and dental professionals.
Methods: On February 15, 2025, a YouTube search was performed using the terms “retreatment,” “repeat root canal treatment,” and their Turkish equivalents. Among 85 videos screened, 35 met the inclusion criteria. Two observers independently evaluated them using a 13-item content checklist, the Modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool, and the Global Score for Educational Value (GSEV). Descriptive statistics, normality tests, Spearman correlation, t-tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for analysis (p<0.05).
Results: The mean GSEV score was 5.07±3.21, suggesting moderate educational value. The average mDISCERN score was 2.44±0.95, indicating low reliability. Retreatment indications were the most commonly discussed topic (91.4%), while contraindications and intraoperative pain were rarely mentioned. Longer videos had higher GSEV scores. No link was found between video popularity and quality. Most videos were uploaded by independent dentists (57.1%).
Conclusion: YouTube videos on endodontic retreatment show inconsistent quality and limited reliability. They can offer visual support but should not replace scientific resources. Dental professionals should help direct audiences to accurate, evidence-based content.

Keywords: Dental education, educational quality, endodontic retreatment, video reliability.