Global research on dental polymers and their application: A bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Dental polymers are crucial for various restorative and prosthetic applications.
• Understanding research trends in dental polymers is essential for innovation.
• Bibliometric analysis provides insights into the evolution of scientific fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze top-cited articles, leading countries, journals, authors, and institutions in dental polymer research.
• To map the research landscape of dental polymers and their applications from 1962 to 2021.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the most influential contributions to the field.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of research articles on dental polymers.
• Data extraction from the Scopus database (1962-2021).
• Utilized tools: MS Excel, Microsoft Word, Google Open Refine, Biblioshiny, BibExcel, and VOSviewer for data analysis and visualization.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in publications related to dental polymers was observed over the study period.
• The United States emerged as the most prolific country in dental polymer research.
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece) was identified as the leading research institution.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis offers valuable guidance for researchers, funding agencies, industry stakeholders, and academic institutions.
• The findings can inform strategic decisions and identify emerging areas within dental polymer science.
• Highlights the importance of international collaboration and the impact of leading institutions in advancing dental polymer technology.