Emergent Patterns, Collaborative Networks and Thematic Evolution on Black Stain and Dental Caries: A Scientometric Study

Aim: To conduct a scientometric analysis on black stains, and dental caries, with a focus on identifying emergent patterns, collaborative networks, and thematic evolution. Materials and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was conducted using a scientometric approach. The Scopus database was utilized for literature search, selecting articles published between 1976 and 2023. The literature search was carried out on February 8, 2024, using AND and OR Boolean operators which were adapted to the search strategy. Finally, SciVal used different scientometric indicators such as “Scholarly Output”, “Views Count”, “Field-Weighted Citation Impact” and the “Citation Count”. Results: A total of 13 documents from 10 different sources were analyzed, covering a period from 1976 to 2023. Despite an annual growth rate of 0%, each document has an average of 21.08 citations, indicating their relevance in the field. The documents have an average age of 12.9 years and contain 336 references. A total of 143 additional keywords and 26 author keywords were identified. The documents were written by 62 different authors, with an average of 5 coauthors per document and 30.77% international coauthorships. Conclusion: The results indicate a significant relevance of the documents in the field, a notable collaboration among authors, and a significant thematic evolution in the research topics. The mentioned institutions and sources produced documents with notable results, indicating a significant interest and impact in the field. Clinical significance: This study provides a detailed view of the trends and patterns in the research of dental caries and black stains. The findings can assist dental health professionals in better understanding the prevalence and impact of these conditions. Furthermore, it can guide future research and treatment strategies in this field.