Oral Health: Global Research Performance under Changing Regional Health Burdens

Abstract

Objectives: Inadequate oral hygiene still leads to many serious diseases all over the world. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze scientific research in the field of oral health in order to be able to comprehend their relevant subject areas, research connections, or developments. Methods: This study aimed to assess the global publication output on oral hygiene to create a world map that provides background information on key players, trends, and incentives of research. For this purpose, established bibliometric parameters were combined with state-of-the-art visualization techniques. Results: This study shows the actual key players of research on oral hygiene in high-income economies with only marginal participation from lower economies. This still corresponds to the current burden situations, but they are more and more shifting to the disadvantage of the low-income countries. There is a clear North-South and West-East gradient, with the USA and the Western European nations being the most publishing nations on oral hygiene. As an emerging country, Brazil plays a role in the research. Conclusions: The scientific power players were concentrated in high-income countries. However, the changing epidemiological situation requires a different scientific approach to oral hygiene. This requires an expansion of the international network to meet the demands of future global oral health burdens, which are mainly related to oral hygiene.

Keywords: bibliometrics; oral health; oral health burden; publication output; socio-economic influences.

Figure 1

Number of articles and citations over time.

Figure 2

Countries’ performances on oral hygiene. (A) Number of articles. (B) Number of citations. (C) Citation rate (threshold > 30 articles).

Figure 3

Socio-economic parameters. (A) R_POP = number of articles per population in millions [16] (threshold value: >30 articles). (B) R_GDP = number of items per gross domestic product (GDP) in USD 1000 billion [16] (threshold value > 30 articles).

Figure 4

International network on oral hygiene. Numbers in brackets = number of articles/number of cooperation articles.

Figure 5

Subject areas of Web of Science categories. (A) Ten most frequently assigned areas with number of articles and citations. (B) Relative distribution of the most frequently assigned subject areas in 5-year intervals from 1966–2015.