THE 50 MOST CITED ARTICLES ON GINGIVAL GRAFTS: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Keratinized gum loss is often associated with receding gums, a condition in which gum tissue recedes toward the apex of the tooth root, exposing root surfaces. This combination can compromise periodontal health. Gingival grafts emerge as an effective alternative to treat these conditions, contributing to the regeneration of the keratinized gingival strip. Techniques such as free gum grafting and subepithelial connective tissue grafting are widely used to restore periodontal functionality and health. The objective of this study was to perform a bibliometric review of the 50 most cited articles in the area of gingival grafts. The search strategy was carried out in the Web of Science database of Clarivate Analytics. A search was performed using the terms (Periodontic OR Gingival recession OR Root coverage OR Connective tissue graft OR Plastic periodontal surgery OR Soft tissue grafting OR Coronally advanced flap) in the title and/or abstract. The paired selection of manuscripts was carried out by two researchers, MBM and VJS, independently and previously calibrated. The initial search identified 2033 articles. The most cited article in the top 50 was the one by Cairo et al. in 2008. The oldest manuscript of this bibliometric analysis was published in 1968 by Sullivan in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology and was cited 226 times, while two articles were the most recent, published in 2021 by Tavelli. in the Journal of periodontology, it was cited 127 times and in 2020 by Zucchelli et al. in the Journal of periodontology, cited 130 times. The institutions that stood out the most were the University of Zurich, followed by Private Practice. The main country was the United States. Among the main journals are the Journal of Periodontology and the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. In total, 290 keywords were used. The year 2010 was the most productive, with six studies published. More recent works were poorly represented, with the most current dating from 2021. The literature review carried out in this study revealed the growing interest and research around the use of Gingival Grafts as an effective alternative for the recovery of keratinized gums and treatment of gingival recessions.