The Role of Social Media on Dental Education and Oral Health: A Focus on Instagram

Background: The rapid growth of social media, particularly Instagram, significantly influences the dental profession. As dentists become more aware of the power of Instagram, the platform is now being used to reach new patients, promote services, and educate the public about oral health. This study evaluates the possible interaction between social media (Instagram)and dentistry. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Lilacs were systematically searched until 31/01/2023. In addition, a manual search was performed using the bibliography of selected articles and a Google Scholar search. Articles were selected that met the inclusion criteria. The papers were read to assess their eligibility. Results: 185 articles were selected. Specifically, 71 articles were found in PubMed, nine from Lilacs, and 105 from Web of Science. Clinical trials were selected as inclusion criteria. Therefore, four articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected; The results of these studies showed that Instagram is a helpful method to make patients accept orthodontic therapy and improve their hygiene during treatment. Conclusions: In conclusion, the use of Instagram in dentistry is rapidly increasing. As dentists become more aware of the platform's potential, they can reach new patients, engage with current patients, and connect with other dental professionals. Ultimately, using Instagram in dentistry can help improve patient education, increase patient engagement, and advance the field.