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

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 Google Trends and its extension Glimpse were used to identify and analyze the relative and absolute search volumes of “periodontitis” and “gingivitis”, along with related queries, in five countries (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and the USA) for the years 2008–2025. Additionally, Ubersuggest provided data on search volumes, device types, age groups, and click behavior. Statistical analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism Software and included linear regression, distribution analysis and comparison as well as Chi-squared tests.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.