ArticleBMC oral health2025
Applications of spatial autocorrelation in global dentistry: a scoping review.
Article in BMC oral health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Spatiotemporal epidemiology of influenza in Fujian Province: an 18-year observational study.BMC infectious diseases · 2026Observational
- Spatial population study on the association among socio-economic indicators and oral health in preschool children in Buenos Aires.BMJ open · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSpatial analysis in dental research offers critical insights into the geographic distribution of oral health issues. This scoping review aims to identify and classify the applications of spatial analysis in dental research, with a specific focus on spatial autocorrelation methods.
methodsThis scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. Literature searches were conducted via PubMed and Scopus, including all available publications through 2025. The inclusion criteria were based on Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. Data were summarized in tables detailing publication chronology, study aims, geographical distribution, dental health aspects, methodological approaches, study design, spatial unit, and software utilized.
resultsThe search yielded 429 records, of which 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most focused on oral cancer, access to oral healthcare, and dental service utilization. Fewer studies addressed oral conditions such as dental caries, dental trauma, periodontitis, edentulism, and cleft lip and palate. The majority of studies originated from Brazil and the United States. A notable increase in publications was observed, particularly after 2010.
conclusionsThis review highlights the role of spatial autocorrelation in understanding geographic clustering of oral diseases and disparities in oral healthcare access. Integrating spatial analysis can enhance public health surveillance, identify underserved areas, and inform targeted interventions. Future research should refine spatial methodologies, incorporate big data analytics, and integrate surveillance systems to support evidence-based policymaking, optimize resource allocation, and advance global efforts toward universal oral health coverage.
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Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.