Research Trends and Mapping Knowledge for Short Implants in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

To evaluate scientific publications on short implants by identifying key trends, influential authors, journals, and articles and to visualize thematic areas to guide future research.

The Web of Science (WoS) database was searched using keywords (['Short Implant' OR 'Short Implants' OR 'Short Dental Implant' OR 'Short Dental Implants']). After applying specific inclusion criteria, 626 articles published between 1994 and 2024 were included. Bibliometric and science mapping analyses were performed using the Bibliometrix R package tool. Performance analysis, keyword analysis, co-citation, and thematic mapping were conducted. The PRISMA guidelines were adapted to ensure transparency and reproducibility.

The analysis showed a significant increase in scientific production on short implants, with an annual growth rate of 12.69%. The average citation per article was 33.9. Clinical Oral Implants Research and The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants were identified as the most influential journals. Esposito M and Felice P were the most prolific and cited authors. The most cited article was 'Bone Augmentation Procedures in Implant Dentistry' by Chiapasco M et al.1 Thematic analysis revealed four major research areas-clinical outcomes/ survival, rehabilitation of atrophic posterior jaws, prosthetic-biomechanical aspects, and comparisons with standard implants-and highlighted evolving trends. Despite a peak in publications in 2019, a recent decline was observed after 2010. Co-citation networks illustrated collaborations between authors and journals as well as frequently cited clusters in the field.

This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the scientific landscape on short implants. The study highlights increasing interest trends, maps out past and current keywords regarding short implants, and identifies leading authors, journals, and articles shaping the field.