Characteristics, Citation Analysis, and Altmetrics Impact of Retracted Papers in Dentistry (2001-2024)

Retraction is a mechanism for correcting published scholarly literature and alerting readers to seriously flawed or erroneous content, or ethical issues, in the literature they are reading. The objectives of this study were to identify the reasons for retraction, analyse citations, and describe the scientific and Altmetrics impacts of retracted papers in dentistry, oral health, and medicine.

The present study was an applied, descriptive-analytical investigation conducted using Scientometric methods and the Altmetrics index. The research population consisted of 231 retracted scientific articles in the subject areas of Dentistry, Oral Surgery, and Medicine, which were indexed in the Web of Science database between 2001 and 2024. Statistical methods, including frequency, mean, and Spearman's correlation, were employed for data analysis using R software.

The findings showed that out of the 231 retracted articles, 156 articles collectively received 2271 citations. Q1 journals have hosted the most retracted articles. Spain has the highest number of retracted articles in the field of dentistry worldwide. Falsification/fabrication of data is the most important reason for the retraction of articles. Mendeley had the highest share of retracted papers in dentistry among the reference management tools. The correlation coefficient between Altmetrics impact and scientific impact was significant (P < .05).

As dentistry and oral health are a pivotal field within the biomedical sciences, they exert a substantial influence on the health of the population. For the preceding decades, it has remained imperative for dentistry researchers to dedicate greater attention to all phases of their research process, encompassing the study design, review process, and publication stage.