The 100 Most Cited Studies on Impacted Canines: A Bibliometric Analysis Study

Objective: To evaluate the scientific literature on impacted canines using bibliometric and altmetric analyses. Methods: A systematic search of the Web of Science Core Collection was performed using keywords related to impacted canines. Three independent reviewers identified, screened, and evaluated the 100 most-cited articles. Citation data were cross-verified with Scopus and Google Scholar. Extracted information included citation counts, study design, publication year, authors, institutions, journals, and countries. Bibliometric mapping was conducted using VOSviewer, and altmetric indicators were obtained from dimensions. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's rank correlation, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The 100 most-cited articles received 10,429 citations in the Web of Science, and citation counts were strongly correlated across databases (p<0.001). Most studies were observational (69%), followed by narrative reviews (12%) and interventional studies (10%). Research topics primarily addressed the etiology, radiographic assessments, and associated anomalies. The most cited article in the Web of Science database was Ericson and Kurol's 1988 study on the interceptive extraction of primary canines. Publications were concentrated in orthodontic specialty journals, with the USA, Italy, and Israel being the leading countries. Conclusion: Analysis of the 100 most-cited articles revealed that influential research on impacted canines is predominantly, focusing on etiology and diagnosis. Areas such as mandibular impactions, periodontal outcomes, and long-term treatment effects remain underexplored.