Bibliometric and science-mapping analysis of translation-oriented signals across six dental stem-cell subtypes: a Web...

To benchmark publication growth, conceptual structure, and translation-oriented signals across six dental stem-cell (DSC) subtypes from 2000 to 2025.

Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-E/SSCI/ESCI) was searched (2000-2025) for DPSC, PDLSC, SHED, SCAP, DFSC, and GMSC records. After cross-subtype deduplication, corpus-level indicators and networks were computed on the deduplicated corpus (N = 13,327) using fractional assignment to avoid multi-subtype inflation. Subtype-level time trends were computed within each subtype export (full counting). Translation-oriented signals (biomaterials/scaffolds, in vivo models, EVs/exosomes, clinical-trial mentions) were estimated from a stratified random sample of 500 records per subtype (fixed seed 20251216) using rule-based dictionaries with manual verification of sampled classifications.

Output increased sharply after 2010 and spanned 1,462 journals. DPSC and PDLSC dominated publication volume, while SHED, SCAP, DFSC, and GMSC showed later growth. Science mapping resolved four recurring themes (regeneration applications; biomaterials/differentiation; angiogenesis/VEGF; immunomodulation/EVs). Across subtypes, biomaterials/scaffold and in vivo-model signals were frequent, EV/exosome signals rose after 2015, and clinical-trial mentions remained uncommon; SHED and GMSC showed comparatively higher EV/exosome and trial-mention proportions.

This subtype-resolved, overlap-aware evidence map provides a basis for comparative benchmarking and highlights where translational emphasis is increasing versus where clinical evidence remains sparse.

These findings may help inform model selection, biomaterials strategy design, and prioritization of evidence gaps in regenerative dentistry.