Socket shield technique in implant dentistry: An AI-based bibliometric analysis

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The socket shield technique (SST) has become an innovative approach to dental implant placement and is aimed at preserving facial bone integrity and enhancing esthetic outcomes. Despite its increasing adoption, comprehensive bibliometric analyses specific to the SST are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of research into the SST using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools to map the scientific landscape and identify emerging trends, influential authors, and key research areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted using a metadata search query to identify relevant SST articles published in the Scopus database from 2010 to 2024. AI-assisted screening and automated metadata extraction via the Scopus API facilitated data collection. A manual verification process was conducted by domain experts to refine and validate AI-selected articles. Bibliometric analysis was performed using the R bibliometrix package and visualization tools such as VOS Viewer and Python to examine publication trends, citation patterns, and co-authorship networks. RESULTS: A total of 157 articles were identified, with publication output showing a steady increase, particularly after 2015. The bibliometric analysis identified the leading contributors in terms of publication count and authorship influence. The United States led in overall publication volume and collaborative international publications, whereas China produced the most single-country publications. Germany had the highest total citations, as well as the highest average article citations. Early conceptual work continued to have a lasting impact on subsequent research. The International Journal of Periodontics and Restorative Dentistry published the largest number of articles related to SST. CONCLUSIONS: The bibliometric analysis demonstrates that SST research is growing rapidly, with significant contributions from both the academic and clinical sectors. AI-enhanced bibliometric methods could be effective in identifying key trends and can be applied to guide future studies in implant dentistry.