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Open Access
CC BY 4.0 · European Journal of General Dentistry
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1811522
Original Article

Assessing the Readability and Quality of Zygomatic Implants—Online Information: An English-Language Infodemiologic Study

Abdullah Saeidi 
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2   Health and Life Research Center, Taibah University, Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Ayman Bakkari
3   Internship Unit, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Aser Bakkari
3   Internship Unit, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Samer Shahadah
3   Internship Unit, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Muath Alassaf
4   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Fahad Hospital, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Ahmad Qazali
5   Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Shadi Alzahrani
6   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Albraa Alolayan
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
Shadia A. Elsayed 
1   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2   Health and Life Research Center, Taibah University, Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

Objective

Zygomatic implants are necessary approach for severe maxillary atrophy patients, yet online information about them are difficult to understand, hindering patients' ability to make informed decisions. By evaluating these resources, the research aims to identify gaps and recommend ways to improve the accessibility and clarity of online health information.

Materials and Methods

Web sites obtained by using English keywords about “Zygomatic dental implant” on Yahoo, Google, and Bing were included in the present study (August 8, 2024). Web sites were assessed using several tools like: DISCERN, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmarks, and readability assessment indices such as Flesch-Reading-Ease, Flesch-Kincaid-Grad- Level, and Simple-Measure of Gobbledygook scales.

Results

Seventy-eight Web site were included where 66 Web sites (84.6%) were related to dental/medical centers, while very few numbers of nonprofit organization Web sites provided information specifically on the zygomatic implant, 2 (2.6%). The highest DISCERN scores were linked to the relevance of content question (4.94 ± 0.24). The currency item of the JAMA benchmark was the most achieved item among Web sites (8 Web sites), most of them met by medical and dental centers, while disclosure was the least achieved item (zero Web sites). Only one Web site was categorized as easy. The overall DISCERN score for the identified websites about zygomatic implants indicated a medium level of quality and the average quality question no. 16 of the included Web sites were 2.72 ± 0.50.

Conclusion

This study highlights that while the quality of resources is moderate, their poor readability poses a significant challenge. More reliable and readable Web sites that describe the various maxillofacial treatments of zygomatic implant procedures are needed.

Keywords

zygomatic implant - zygoma fixture - readability - DISCERN - JAMA - Web site

Ethical Approval

None.




Publication History

Article published online:
15 September 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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