Bibliometric analysis of three-dimensional printing in craniofacial and craniomaxillofacial applications: Research trends, key contributors, and collaboration networks

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has revolutionized craniofacial and craniomaxillofacial applications, leading to substantial advancements in patient-specific treatments. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was performed to identify the key contributors, research trends, thematic developments, and collaboration networks in this evolving field. Two search strategies were employed to ensure a comprehensive analysis: (1) a broad search, in which selected keywords were searched in the title, abstract, and keyword fields to capture all relevant publications, and (2) a title-specific search, in which keywords were restricted to the title field to identify publications with a strong focus on 3D printing in craniofacial and craniomaxillofacial applications. The retrieved dataset was analyzed using VOSviewer and RStudio (bibliometrix package). The broad search retrieved 3 534 publications, whereas the title-specific search yielded 280 publications. The analysis of these 280 papers focused on identifying the top authors, universities, and countries, as well as their research dynamics and collaboration networks. A more detailed approach was adopted by examining the titles of these 280 papers. VOSviewer segmented the titles into approximately 800 words, which were then categorized into 18 distinct thematic groups to represent research trends. The focus areas of the ten most cited papers were also analyzed. This bibliometric study provides valuable insights into the progress in 3D printing for craniofacial and craniomaxillofacial applications. By highlighting the key contributors, thematic developments, and collaborative networks, this study offers a foundation for future research in this rapidly advancing field.