Global Research Trends in Dental Erosive Wear: A Quantitative Perspective of the Last 3 Decades

Dental erosion wear is one of the most prevalent dental health issues. By improving patient diets, lifestyle choices, and systemic conditions, dental erosion is being addressed as a major cause of progressive tooth loss, primarily of enamel and other dental hard tissues. Even though more studies are being published, there is still a lack of thorough quantitative reviews of research trends in this field. This study used a bibliometric approach with data from the Web of Science database to examine research trends in dental erosion wear.

To gather relevant research publications published between January 1991 and August 2023, a search query was created. The most prolific authors, institutions, sources, keywords, research areas, and collaboration networks among authors, sources, countries, and leading funding organisations were analysed based on 1268 records, topical growth and development, impact, and contributions of published research on dental erosion wear over the period.

The annual publication growth rate was found to be 7.78%, indicating a consistent growth in scholarly publications. The University of São Paulo, located in Brazil, and Addy M were considered the most research-producing institution and author, respectively. With a substantial number of the highest citations, the Journal of Dentistry, published by Elsevier in the Netherlands, held the first place. Dentin, enamel, fluoride, and saliva were some of the major research themes. Brazil's Fundacao De Amparo A Pesquisa Do Estado de Sao Paulo was at the top of this list, showing its significant support for scientific research.

The results of this bibliometric analysis show that, over the past three decades, there has been a consistent worldwide rise in publications on dental erosive wear, which is indicative of the field's increasing scientific and clinical significance. Strong research effort is evident in Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, as evidenced by the preponderance of their contributions. International cooperation in tooth erosion research is growing, according to collaboration networks between authors and institutions. A movement toward clinical management and biomaterial innovation was demonstrated by the thematic analysis, which highlighted important research focuses on enamel, fluoride, saliva, and preventive measures.

In the field of dental erosive wear, research findings provide useful insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers, guiding them towards unexplored research domains that can promote technological advances and promote collaboration between researchers.