Bibliometric Analysis of 100 Most Cited Articles in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region on Implant Prosthodontics

Abstract

Abstract Aim: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis and scientometric evaluation of the top 100 most cited publications in the field of implant prosthodontics, authored by individuals affiliated with nations of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Materials and Methods: In October 2023, the 100 most cited articles were gathered from the Web of Science database using the bibliometric research technique. The analysis was conducted on bibliometric indicators, including the distribution of articles over time, authorship, design of study, field of study, nature of research, contribution from various countries in MENA, international research collaboration, and most frequently used keywords by authors. Chi-square and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis. VOSviewer software was used to analyze the bibliometric network for co-occurrence among countries, coauthors, and common keywords. Results: The results revealed that the top 100 most cited articles from MENA countries on the topic of implant prosthodontics, published between 1995 and 2020, had received an average of 73.31 citations each. About one-third of the papers were published in the top 4 journals. The journal with the most published articles was Clinical Oral Implant Research, followed by the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, the International Journal of Prosthodontics, and the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Saudi Arabia had the distinction of producing the greatest number of highly cited papers. The co-occurrence network analysis using VOSviewer software identified 10–15 related clusters. Research studies with multiple authors received significantly more citations (P < 0.05). Significant relationships were observed between the number of citations and journal type (open access vs. non-open access; P < 0.05), and also articles published in dental journals received the most citations and were statistically significant (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Over the last decade, there has been a significant surge in research related to implant prosthodontics. Among the countries in the MENA region, Saudi Arabia has distinguished itself by leading in terms of overall research output. This resource would benefit academicians, clinicians, and researchers in prosthodontics, oral surgery, and periodontic specialties of dentistry.