Osseointegration of Dental Implants in Irradiated Patients: A Bibliometric Study

Background: To analyze the osseointegration of dental implants in irradiated patients through a bibliometric study. Materials and methods: A descriptive and retrospective bibliometric study was conducted, focusing on English-language scientific publications indexed in Scopus from January 2018 to May 2024. To maintain quality and relevance, the study excluded abstracts, letters to the editor, book reviews, opinions, and symposium reports. The search, conducted on May 11, 2024, utilized the MeSH terms from the National Library of Medicine along with Boolean operators to refine the search. Relevant indicators such as citation count, publications by country, year, author, journal quartile, and more were examined. The data were analyzed using SciVal, Mendeley, Bibliometrix, and VOSviewer software. Results: The research identified 25 relevant papers, with an annual growth rate of 16.73%. The average number of citations per paper was 9.8, with a total of 846 references and 144 authors. German institutions led in scientific production, with the highest impact seen at Hospital Santa Catarina of Brazil. Brazilian authors showed the highest citation impact, while Heiland Max attained the highest h-index. Most publications were within the first (Q1, n = 14) and second (Q2, n = 6) quartiles, with 2021 standing out as the year with the highest impact. Collaboration maps highlighted international cooperation between several countries such as the USA, Spain, China, and Chile. Conclusion: The study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of osseointegration of dental implants in irradiated patients, highlighting key trends and collaborations in the field. Clinical significance: This study underscores the clinical importance of osseointegration of dental implants in patients who have undergone radiation therapy. By providing insights into trends and collaborative networks, enhances our understanding of these patterns, which can improve treatment strategies, and patient outcomes, and guide future research. Ultimately, this advances the field of dental implantology for irradiated patients.