Bibliometric Trends in the Study of Occlusal Splints and Three-dimensional Printing or Computer-aided design/ Computer-aided Manufacturing
Lozano-Castro F.; Barriga-Yauri G.; Munive-Degregori A.; Lozano-Reguera A.; Mauricio-Vilchez C.; Espinoza-Carhuancho F.; Mayta-Tovalino F. · World Journal of Dentistry (2026) · DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2864
Resumen
Aim: To evaluate the scientific literature on occlusal splints, focusing on thematic trends, international collaborations, and the most relevant metrics of academic productivity during the period from January 2019 to March 2025. Materials and methods: This retrospective, observational study adopted a scientometric analysis. The search was conducted on 13th March 2025 in the Scopus database, where 611 documents classified as articles, reviews, conference proceedings, and other formats were identified. Topical filters were then used to extract 174 documents, of which only 171 were included in the analysis. The acquired data, analyzed using Bibliometrix, were used to assess the thematic trends of the objects of investigation and, with SciVal, to assess collaborations and social value. Results: The scientific production exhibited an average annual rate of decrease of -14.16%. The average time to production was 2.91 years. The total citations per document were 7,749, indicating a strong overall impact on the field of research. Brazil led scientific production in international collaborations. The University of Turku was also notable for its high productivity output and even greater relevance, with influential contributors such as Lassila Lippo Veli Juhana as prolific authors. The Journal of Oral Rehabilitation was at the forefront of knowledge dissemination, driving impactful advances through research recommendations. Conclusion: This study presents a broad and varied picture of occlusal splint research, further emphasizing the importance of international collaboration. Universities and key authors accounted for a significant share of scientific output, while new technologies gained prominence during the period analyzed. Clinical significance: This research study focuses on the evolving role of three-dimensional (3D) printing and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in the design of occlusal splints, shaping the evolution of digital dentistry. Recognizing global research trends and collaboration can assist clinicians and researchers in obtaining optimal treatment strategies in the future while providing better customization and patient experiences with occlusal splints. By mapping academic productivity and identifying contributing authors, this study provides useful information to advance splint fabrication, leading to more specific, convenient, and patient-centric options in clinical practice. © The Author(s). 2026 Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). This license permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited, a link to the license is included, and any changes are indicated.
Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú; Universidad Científica del Sur; Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola; Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal