Patterns of Scientific Influence in Orthodontic Research: A Citation-based Analysis of Highly Cited Publications

Background Highly cited publications offer insight into how research influence is distributed within a field. Objectives To identify and characterize the most highly cited orthodontic articles published between 2011 and 2020. Methods A retrospective bibliometric analysis was conducted using citation data retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Orthodontic journals indexed in the first and second quartiles (Q1 and Q2) were included. Articles were ranked by total citation counts, and due to ties at the citation threshold, 103 articles were included. Bibliometric variables examined included journal of publication, publication year, total citations, authorship structure, institutional affiliations, geographic origin, study design, and research themes. Descriptive statistics and categorical analyses were performed. Results Citation counts ranged from 51 to 203, demonstrating a skewed distribution characteristic of citation datasets. The majority of highly cited articles were concentrated in a small subset of journals. Multi-authored publications predominated, and gender analysis revealed male predominance among authors, while geographic distribution indicated citation clustering within Europe and North America. Thematic classification identified digital technologies as the most prominent research domain. Conclusions Gender disparities observed within authorship structures reflect broader systemic patterns documented across scientific disciplines. Technological innovation, collaborative authorship, and structural factors appear closely associated with citation visibility.