Systematic reviews in dentistry: Current status, epidemiological and reporting characteristics

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics
• Evidence-based dentistry
• Scientific publishing

Background:

• Systematic reviews (SRs) are vital for synthesizing dental research.
• Evaluating the quality of SRs in dentistry is essential for reliable evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the epidemiological and reporting characteristics of dental SRs published in 2017.
• To identify areas for improvement in SR methodology and reporting within dentistry.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of PubMed for dental SRs published in 2017.
• Independent review and data extraction by multiple reviewers.
• Descriptive analysis and subgrouping by dental specialties.
• Exploration of PRISMA Statement adherence and its association with reporting quality.

Main Results:

• 495 dental SRs met the inclusion criteria, with Oral Surgery being the most frequent specialty.
• Brazil was the leading contributor of SRs.
• Reporting quality was inconsistent; title/abstract reporting was good, but risk of bias assessment was often missing (40.5%).
• Adherence to PRISMA guidelines was low, with only four characteristics frequently reported in PRISMA-adherent SRs.

Conclusions:

• A significant number of dental SRs were published in 2017, exhibiting diverse characteristics.
• There is a clear need to enhance the reporting standards and methodological rigor of SRs in dentistry.
• Improved SR quality is essential to ensure accurate and unbiased findings in dental literature.