Assessment of the readability of online orthodontic educational resources related to 'orthodontic treatment': A cross-sectional study

Objective: In the digital age, the internet has become a primary source for patient education in orthodontics. However, the effectiveness of these online resources largely depends on their readability and comprehensibility. The main aim of our research was to assess the readability of the ten most popular websites dedicated to orthodontic treatment. Additionally, we aimed to ascertain the educational level required to comprehend the information provided on these websites. Materials and Methods: The selection of the top 10 patient-centric English language websites was conducted through a search query for "orthodontic treatment" on the Google Chrome browser. The assessment of text readability was conducted by employing six different readability indices, The readability formulas website (https://readabilityformulas.com) was utilized as a resource for this purpose. Results: The researchers calculated the average Flesch Reading Ease index score to be 58.60, with a standard deviation of 10.17. According to GFI, these websites necessitate an average of 12.52 years of formal education, with a standard variation of 2.15, in order to aid understanding. The mean grade level was found to be 10.40, with a standard deviation of 1.90. Conclusion: Our research indicates that internet resources are crucial in orthodontic education for Generation Z, serving as a platform for efficient learning, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic in creating a general knowledge a level of moderate-complexity. Orthodontic professionals and website developers should be encouraged to consider the readability of their content to ensure it meets the needs of a diverse patient population. However, the utilization of internet information should not be regarded as a comprehensive replacement for a comprehensive treatment process.