Diabetes Mellitus in Endodontics: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 50 Most-Cited Papers

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is characterised by hyperglycemia resulting from a deficiency of insulin production and/or insulin resistance by cells in the body manifesting in various ways such as elevated levels of inflammatory markers, immune dysfunctions, and increased susceptibility to infections. Aims: This study assessed the features of the 50 most cited papers on diabetes mellitus (DM) research published in the endodontic field through bibliometric measures. Methodology: A search was conducted in the Web of Science database up to January 2023, using the filter “Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine.” Bibliometric indicators were collected. Graphical bibliometric networks were generated using VOSviewer software. Results: The top 50 papers were cited between 13 and 177 times. Papers were published from 1996 to 2020, mainly in the Journal of Endodontics (23%). Among 191 authors, J. Segura-Egea had the greatest contribution (n=10; 537 citations), while A. Fouad was the most-cited author (n=9; 576 citations). Most articles originated from Brazil (n=17) and the United States (n=12), predominantly from São Paulo State University. The articles mainly comprised laboratory studies (n=24) examining the impact of DM on pulp and periapical tissues. “Diabetes mellitus” (n=19) and “apical periodontitis” (n=12) were the most frequent keywords. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis highlights the 50 most-cited studies on DM research in endodontics. Brazil and the United States stood out. Approximately half of the studies are basic research published in high-impact endodontic journals. Further studies evaluating DM's impact on human oral health are needed.