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Three Decades of Prosthodontic Oral Rehabilitation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Materials, Implants, and Digital
Yuh-Shan Ho1, Abhishek Kumar2, Nikolaos Christidis2
1CT HO Trend, 3F.-7, No. 1, Fuxing N. Road, Songshan, Taipei City, 105611, Taiwan.
Objective:
Over the past three decades, prosthodontic research has expanded from material- and implant-focused rehabilitation toward increasingly digital and function-oriented approaches in oral rehabilitation. Understanding how these shifts align with functional, biological, and patient-centered rehabilitation goals is essential for future clinical development. To explore these transitions, bibliometric mapping of prosthodontic research published between 1991 and 2024 was performed.
Methods:
Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) (Science Citation Index Expanded [SCI-EXPANDED]) using an expanded set of prosthodontics-related search terms. A "front page" filter (titles, abstracts, and author keywords) was applied to improve specificity. Word frequency analyses were conducted for titles, abstracts, author keywords, and Keywords Plus. Structured word cluster analysis was used to identify major research topics, overarching research focuses, and emerging themes. Temporal trends were evaluated across three publication intervals: 1991-2011, 2012-2018, and 2019-2024.
Results:
A total of 38,382 articles met the inclusion criteria. Nine main research topics were identified, dominated by implant dentistry, dental materials, and digital dentistry. Four overarching research focuses were delineated: implant-based rehabilitation, advanced prosthodontic materials, digital and computer-assisted prosthodontics, and functional rehabilitation. Three emerging themes, namely, 3D printing, accuracy-driven digital validation, and artificial intelligence (AI), showed marked growth during 2019-2024, reflecting rapid technological adoption.
Conclusion:
Prosthodontic research remains strongly anchored in implant therapy and materials science, while digital and data-driven technologies are expanding rapidly. These trends indicate a transition toward more personalized, efficient, and function-oriented oral rehabilitation, with implications for future research priorities and clinical practice.
