Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38534289›Full record

ArticleDentistry journal2024

Dental Practice Websites in Germany-How Do They Inform about Fluoridation?

Antje Geiken, Mirja Kock, Lisa Banz, Falk Schwendicke, Christian Graetz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dentistry journal, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. [Early dental visits - a systematic analysis of the information content of national dental child health records].Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany)) · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Antje GeikenClinic of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Mirja KockClinic of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Lisa BanzClinic of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Falk SchwendickeClinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany.
Christian GraetzClinic of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-8316-0565

Funding

Publikationsfonds Land Schleswig Holstein für Nachwuchswissenschaftler DE814167313
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fluoridation (Fl) is effective in preventing caries; however, it is unclear to what extent its use is counteracted by misinformation on the internet. This study aimed to evaluate the information provided on professional websites of German dental practices regarding fluoridation. A systematic search was performed by two independent examiners, utilizing three search engines, from 10 September 2021 to 11 December 2021. Modified, validated questionnaires (LIDA, DISCERN) were used to evaluate technical and functional aspects, generic quality, and risk of bias. Demographic information and statements about Fl were also collected. The intra- and inter-rater reliability assessments were excellent. Of the 81 websites analyzed, 64 (79%) mentioned Fl, and 31 (38%) indicated it as a primary focus. Most websites met at least 50% of the LIDA (90%) and DISCERN criteria (99%), indicating that the general quality was good. Thirty (37%) of the websites explained the impact of Fl, and forty-five (56%) indicated an opinion (for/against) on Fl. The practice location and the clinical focus were not associated with the overall quality of websites. Only a minority of websites explained the effects of Fl. Taken together, this study highlights that there is a distinct lack of good-quality information on FL.

Indexed as

dental websitefluorideinternetmedical informationprevention

Identifiers

PMID38534289
PMCPMC10968803

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.