“Fake braces” is a term used to describe fixed orthodontic appliances that are fitted by unlicensed providers. This trend has raised public health concerns in certain countries with marketing typically undertaken on social media. We aimed to investigate the frequency and nature of Instagram posts by fake braces providers in Malaysia. Initial screening of Instagram accounts was performed using relevant hashtags (#fakebraces, #cheapbraces). Public Instagram accounts that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were assigned a code with posts evaluated over a one-month period. Data were coded and analysed using thematic analysis. Frequency distribution was calculated using Microsoft Excel. Thirty-eight Instagram accounts were analysed. 2831 images/videos were posted, receiving 7165 likes with videos being viewed 21, 918 times. The majority of posts were related to fake braces services (36.7%), followed by non-relevant posts (29.4%) and other services (14.5%). Services were provided mainly at home (44.7%) or offered both home and door-to-door services (23.7%). Although the posts on promotions were less frequent (5.4%), the displayed prices were low (RM150 to RM500), offering additional packages and discounts. Unlicensed providers have a variety of content to engage with social media audiences. Efforts should be made to increase public awareness, directing them towards reliable information about orthodontic services.
Orthodontics

Introduction: Scoliosis is characterized by an abnormal lateral curvature that may occur during a child’s growth period. Early detection and intervention are needed to prevent the progression of abnormal curvatures. While the gold standard for diagnosing idiopathic scoliosis is x-ray imaging, there is a quick and easy way to perform screening, i.e., using a smartphone. A mobile application with a built-in inclinometer and simple scoliosis tests may help detect scoliosis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the ScoScreen mobile application’s content for early screening of AIS. Methods: We recruited five physiotherapists with more than five years of experience in paediatric and musculoskeletal and one spinal surgeon. The validity of this study was assessed using a content validity form. Content validity was assessed by calculating the Item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI), Scale-level Content Validity Index (S-CVI), and modified kappa. Results: The results show that the content validity of ScoScreen has an excellent level of content validity (I-CVI=0.83 – 1.00). The average approach’s overall content validity index was high (S-CVI/Ave=0.94). All items in this study were excellent, with the kappa scores greater than 0.74 (kappa= 0.816 – 1). Conclusion: The development of ScoScreen for early screening of AIS was proven to have excellent content validity in this study. As a result, the Scoscreen mobile application is appropriate for early detection of AIS in terms of its content.