ArticleFrontiers in digital health2026
Using search engine analytics to identify public interest and needs in periodontal disease: a retrospective comparative search term analysis of the keywords "periodontitis" and "gingivitis" for the years 2008-2025 in 5 different countries.
Article in Frontiers in digital health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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8 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Periodontitis is a widespread disease with high global prevalence. Alongside medical consultations, patients and healthcare professionals increasingly seek diagnostic and treatment information online. However, few studies have analyzed these search queries, despite their potential to reflect public interest and concerns. Extracting and analyzing such queries may contribute significantly to personalized diagnostics, therapy, and prevention, while also raising awareness of the disease. Methods: The web tool Results: From 2008 to 2025, search volumes for both terms increased significantly in all five countries. In Germany and Italy, "periodontitis" overtook "gingivitis", while in France, Spain, and the US, "gingivitis" remained more frequently searched. Age-specific trends showed gingivitis queries peaked among 18-34-year-olds, while periodontitis was most searched by those aged 25-44. Most searches were conducted via mobile devices, especially in Italy and the USA. Around 50% of users did not click on any result, and organic results were preferred over advertisements. Related queries highlighted strong interest in treatment, home remedies, veterinary relevance, and-uniquely in Spain-celebrity connections. Conclusion: Search interest in gingivitis and periodontitis is high and has grown significantly from 2008 to 2025 across all examined countries. This suggests increased awareness but also reveals a need for improved education and accessible information. Frequently searched topics focused on etiology, diagnosis, and treatment, underscoring the role of search engines as key sources of medical information. These insights offer valuable, unfiltered reflections of patient concerns and questions. In an era of personalized medicine, such data should be integrated into patient-centered care strategies to better address individual needs.
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