Mapping the Intellectual Structure of Green-Synthesized Nanoparticle Research in Dentistry: A Bibliometric Analysis

Objective: Research on green-synthesized nanoparticles in dentistry has grown rapidly, yet remains synthesized mainly through narrative and scoping reviews without formal quantitative mapping. This study characterized publication trends, thematic clusters, geographic productivity, and the intellectual base of this field using bibliometric analysis and science mapping.Methods: Records were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (English; 2006–2026) and screened against a three-element eligibility criterion (green/biogenic synthesis, a nanoparticle/nanomaterial study object, and an explicit dental/oral health context) following the BIBLIO checklist. After deduplication, screening, and indexing verification, 733 records (702 articles and 31 reviews) were retained. Annual growth, keyword co-occurrence, subdiscipline cross-tabulation, country productivity, and co-citation were analyzed using R (Bibliometrix) and VOSviewer.Results: Publication output accelerated sharply after 2017 (CAGR of approximately 24%/year), peaking at 134 documents in 2025. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified eight thematic clusters organized around green synthesis as the hub keyword, dominated by antimicrobial applications, and shifted toward regenerative/translational themes after 2023. Endodontic (3.0%) and implant-related (3.1%) applications remained markedly underexplored. India led in productivity (207 documents) and citation impact (4,521 citations; approximately 21.8 citations/document), followed by China, the United States, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. East Asian and European contributions were limited. Co-citation analysis revealed a narrow, India-centered intellectual base anchored by a small author core,Conclusion: Research on green-synthesized nanoparticles in dentistry has grown since 2017, but remains thematically and geographically concentrated, with pronounced gaps in endodontic and implant-related applications. This first dentistry-specific bibliometric mapping offers an evidence-based roadmap for prioritizing under-explored subdisciplines and broadening the field's research base.