Bibliometric Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies on Early Childhood Caries

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant global public health issue with economic and psychosocial consequences, impacting families and pediatric dentists. It affects children's quality of life, causing pain and infection. Despite increasing research on ECC cross-sectional studies worldwide, inconsistencies and gaps remain in terms of geographical disparities. This study aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of cross-sectional surveys on ECC by examining the co-authorship, citation analysis, co-citation networks, and keyword co-occurrence.

An advanced search was performed using relevant terms in the Dimensions database from 2005 to 2024. Bibliometric parameters were retrieved through the database's analytical view tool and VOSviewer software.

A total of 571 documents were identified, with the highest output between 2019 and 2023 (355 records). Saul Martins Paiva authored the most articles (10), with 294 citations and a total link strength of 19. Brazil and the U.S. had the highest numbers of publications (56 and 52) and total link strengths, i.e., a measure of collaborative ties (21 and 50). The Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil had the most published documents (15). BMC Oral Health led in terms of citations (44 articles, 899 citations, average 20.43%). The frequently co-occurring terms included ECC (1147 occurrences), oral health (417), and preschool child (301).

This bibliometric analysis highlights the global interest in cross-sectional ECC studies beyond pediatric dentistry, helping researchers understand the field's scope and progress.