The Global Knowledge Architecture of Streptococcus mutans: A Bibliometric Analysis

Aim This study aims to elucidate the intellectual structure, evolution, and global research trends of the literature published on Streptococcus mutans, a microorganism that plays a pivotal role in the etiology of dental caries, through comprehensive bibliometric analysis.Material and method A search conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, focusing on "Streptococcus mutans" and "Dentistry," yielded 4,975 publications. The dataset was analyzed using the R-based Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny software packages, examining patterns of authorship, leading journals, contributing countries, citation networks, and keyword clusters.Results Analyses conducted for the period 1980–2025 demonstrate that the literature exhibits a compound annual growth rate of 4.50%. The Journal of Dental Research emerges as the most influential publication venue, boasting both the highest h-index (77) and total citation count (20,710). Bowen WH is identified as the most prolific author (57 articles; h-index: 30), while Koo H holds the greatest influence within the local citation network (824 local citations). Country-level analyses reveal a robust global collaboration network dominated by the United States, China, and Brazil. Sichuan University stands out as the most productive affiliation (323 articles). Keyword cloud and network analyses substantiate that research efforts predominantly cluster around two principal thematic domains: clinical caries etiology and prevention, and biofilm mechanisms/materials science.Conclusion Research on S. mutans manifests a multidisciplinary character, having evolved from classical microbiological paradigms to contemporary genomic and nanotechnological applications. By mapping the field’s intellectual landscape, this study furnishes researchers with an evidence based framework to guide future strategic investigations.