Assessment of internet data on orthodontic treatment and oral hygiene in the Marmara region using Google Trends:a methodological study.

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the relationship between Google Trends (GT) data on orthodontics and oral hygiene terms from 2019, 2020, and 2021 and the gross domestic product (GDP) and population of cities in the Marmara Region.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

GDP, population, and GDP per capita data for Turkiye and the Marmara Region were collected. Using GT, searches for orthodontics, brackets, clear aligners, orthodontic toothbrush, toothpaste, and tooth decay were analyzed for 2019-2021. GT values for Turkiye and Marmara cities were recorded. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for group comparisons, followed by Dunn's test for identifying significant differences. Spearman's rho correlation analysis assessed relationships between parameters.

RESULTS

In 2021, the GT score for toothpaste was significantly higher than in 2019-2020 (p < 0.05). In 2019, clear aligner and tooth decay GT scores showed a positive, significant correlation with GDP (p < 0.05). In 2020 and 2021, braces, clear aligner, and tooth decay GT scores also correlated positively with GDP (p < 0.05). A consistent positive correlation between clear aligner and dental caries was observed across all three years (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GT data demonstrate its potential as a valuable tool for epidemiological research, digital data management, and evidence-based analysis. Findings suggest that individuals in higher GDP provinces are more likely to search for advanced orthodontic treatment, particularly clear aligners.