The Evolving Trends In Vital Pulp Therapy Through the Application of Various Biomaterials: A Bibliometric Study

Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is a crucial dental intervention designed to maintain the vitality of the dental pulp, particularly in carious lesions or trauma. The evolution of biomaterials in VPT has significantly affected dental practices by providing less invasive alternatives that safeguard tooth vitality and functionality. Continued exploration of the properties and effects of these materials is crucial for enhancing treatment strategies and optimizing dental care outcomes. Bibliometric analysis allowed the assessment of trends in the biomaterials used for VPT. Data mining was performed using the Scopus database and Boolean expressions. Data extraction and analysis were conducted using VOSviewer version 1.6.20., VOSviewer thesaurus, and Microsoft Excel. A total of 856 documents were identified, and the United States had the largest number of documents and citations (110 documents, 6,938 citations). The top three sources were the Journal of Endodontics, International Journal of Endodontics, and Dental Materials Journal. Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is still the dominant biomaterial used in VPT to this day. MTA can accelerate dentinogenesis in VPT. The prominence of “MTA” and “VPT” as keywords highlights research on prevalence, causes, prevention, and evaluation, emphasizing the need to investigate biomaterial-driven healing, regeneration, stem cell activity, and gene expression.