Social Media and Its Implications in Pediatric Dentistry

Social media is increasingly being relied upon by health care professionals, including pediatric dentists, to make decisions in their practices. While social media serves as an excellent resource, there is lack of sound guidelines on its use by health professionals in dentistry. Pediatric dentists using social media for professional purposes need to be aware of the uses as well as the challenges it presents. More importantly, members and moderators of social media groups should ensure that all patient care-related information is de-identified and discussions are compliant with federal and state privacy laws and based on evidence-based recommendations.