Document Type
Honors Thesis
Abstract
Over the past few years, TikTok has emerged as a major conduit for health-related information through its wide array of short, emotionally charged videos that shape public perceptions. Within that broader category, this thesis evaluated dental-related content. Studies have investigated educational dental-related content on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook; however, no literature has explored how TikTok’s unique, narrative-driven content characterizes dentistry. For this study, primary research was conducted via content analysis of recently uploaded dental-related TikTok videos across 10 popular oral health-based hashtags. Results underline the dominance of patient voices, the use of personal experience as a messaging format, and the gap between patient and professional viewpoints. Findings support the idea that dentistry can be perceived in myriad ways that differ based on a person’s lived experiences and are mediated through TikTok’s role as a vessel for public discourse.
Keywords: dentistry, anxiety, narrative, social media, theme
Repository Citation
Jacob, Steve, "Open Wide: Examining Dental Narratives in the Age of TikTok" (2026). Honors Theses - Providence Campus. 81.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/student_scholarship/81
