ArticleCureus2026
Global Research Trends in Pediatric Space Maintainers: A Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science Literature.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background Premature loss of primary teeth may lead to arch length reduction, space loss, and malocclusion in children, and space maintainers play an important role in preserving dental arch integrity during the mixed dentition period. Digital workflows, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies have increasingly influenced pediatric space-maintainer design and fabrication. This study aimed to map global research trends in space-maintainer research in pediatric dentistry, identify the principal contributing countries, authors, and journals, and characterize the temporal and thematic development of digital fabrication-related topics, particularly 3D printing and CAD/CAM, within this field. Methods A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database, including articles and reviews on space maintainers and pediatric dentistry published from the database inception to 17 June 2026. Bibliometric indicators -annual production, leading countries, productive authors, core journals, keyword co-occurrence networks, and trend topics -were analyzed using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer software. Results A total of 221 publications specifically addressing space-maintainer appliances met the inclusion criteria. Scientific production remained limited until the mid-1990s but increased markedly after 2019, reaching its highest annual output in 2021. India was the most productive country, followed by Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified five thematic clusters, with "space maintainer," "pediatric dentistry," and "premature loss" as the most frequently occurring keywords. Trend analysis showed increasing prominence of "3D printing" and "CAD/CAM"-related terms since 2021, with digital fabrication terms appearing within the core and appliance-specific thematic clusters. Conclusions Research on space maintainers in pediatric dentistry has expanded considerably over the last decade. The increasing visibility of 3D printing and CAD/CAM technologies indicates an emerging digital research direction toward more patient-specific space-maintainer fabrication. Future clinical trials and long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness, durability, and clinical performance of digitally manufactured space maintainers.
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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.