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edirect to another URL. If the webpage is not relevant to
implants, it becomes mandatory to choose the implant
product line. Then the subsequent page is considered the
homepage. Some webpages mandate the selection of
the region first. Once selected, the subsequent page is
considered the homepage.
Sample selection
A convenient sample of dental manufacturers’
webpages was chosen. The ADA lists 39 companies in
its dental buying guide “IMPLANTS AND ACCESSORIES
CATEGORY”. The list provided, at the time of research,
contains links to subsequent webpages per each company.
Only 12 companies were valid and current implant
manufacturers and their webpages were accessed, while
the rest provided webpages for companies dealing with
implant related materials and devices.
Icon Definition
An icon is defined here as an active link, where a web
component can be clicked by mouse navigation or enter
controls. The webpages provided clickable icons: in the
form of buttons, images, or texts. The total number of
these icons are counted either if directly seen on the home
page or embedded in drop-down lists or in active flashes.
Once clicked, these icons linked the surfer to other
webpages. The labels used on these icons are put in
parenthesis “ “. The subsequent webpage was categorized
according to the material presented in it (fig. 2). Variations
of content are reported in terms of:
Labels and the sum of Educational and scientific
materials provided
Including “SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES”, “MATERIALS”,
“CAREER DEVELOPMENT”, “CLINICAL SKILL
DEVELOPMENT”, “DENTAL TECHNICIAN” and “PATIENT
GUIDED INFORMATION”
Labels and the sum of Information materials provided
Including: “INTRODUCTORY”, “DISTRIBUTION”,
“CORPORATION”, “HONORARIES” and “IMPLANTS’
OVERVIEW INFORMATION”
Labels and the sum of Services and support
materials provided
Including “PRODUCTS”, “NETWORK OF USERS”,
“SUPPORT”, “SERVICES”, “COMMUNICATION”, and
“SIGN-UPS”
Target audience
The paper describes the targeted audience besides
conventional users of implant related webpages,
including higher dental specialties, other professions and
other users.
Results
Sample selection
Twelve webpages were accessed from the ADA list of
total 39 companies present in its dental buying guide
“IMPLANTS AND ACCESSORIES CATEGORY”. The list
provided, contains links to subsequent webpages per
each company. These were considered sufficient to
develop a standardized methodology of researching the
contents of home pages.
Seven webpages changed their web content slightly
between two points of search (7 th February 2010, 20 th
march 2010). Changes mainly were in blog areas
called: highlights, news blog, upcoming courses and
upcoming events blogs. One changed a congress
announcement, added a “NEWS” icon and updated its
copy right statement. Another announced redistribution
of one of its implants. The next added a “LAB” icon,
updated the flash presenting current events and changed
language names into flags. Finally, one changed some
icons in its footer quick link bar.
Icon Identification on homepage
Results of materials gained by clicking icons are briefed
in table 1, “HOME” is an icon that leads to the homepage
itself. This is useful as the header and footer links are fixed
in subsequent webpages and could help redirect the reader
back to the original webpage. Other material include.
Educational and scientific material: labels and
subjects
Scientific Activities:
“COURSES” and “UPCOMING COURSE” blogs were
the only icons leading to webpages about courses in two
homepages.
Other activities as Meetings, symposia, scientific days,
forums, congresses were announced and linked to, by
labels “NEWS” and “EVENTS” present in homepages as
blog sections or icons.
Recourse Materials
Multiple labels were used, “DOCUMENTATION”,
“ARCHIVES”, “STUDIES”, and “LIBRARY”. One webpage
had “MANUALS”, “DOWNLOADS” and “INTERNATIONAL
DOWNLOADS” for 12 languages. One webpage had
recourse materials reached by icons embedded in a
drop-down list called “CLINICAL RESOURCES”, and
contained “ARTICLES”, “BIBLIOGRAPHY”, “BROCHURES”,
“LITERATURE” and “FAQ” icons.
Professional and career Development
Icons leading to relevant developments were labeled:
“DENTAL PROFESSIONALS”, “PROFESSIONAL
EDUCATION”, “CONTINUING EDUCATION”,
“COURSES”, “CALENDAR” “EDUCATION”,
“EDUCATION CALENDAR”, “EDUCATION AND
EVENTS”, “ONLINE TRAINING”, “CONGRESS” and
“SEMINAR TOURS”.
One webpage had a very rich “CONTINUING
EDUCATION” icon. It contained a drop-down list of
| 16 | Smile Dental Journal | Volume 6, Issue 4 - 2011