A systematic review of trends in photobiomodulation in dentistry between 2018 and 2022: advances and investigative agenda

Abstract

Background Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves laser therapy utilized in medical sciences to modulate biological processes acting as a palliative and immune response-enhancing treatment. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore current trends in PBM-related scientific production, encompassing publications, citations, impact, keywords and clusters. Additionally, it aims to predict future research trends in this domain. Methods The data for this quantitative and qualitative bibliometric analysis were obtained from 608 scientific documents retrieved in November 2022, with 123 sourced from Web of Science and 485 from Scopus, Utilizing Excel, the data was processed in Excel to extract essencial information. Productivity and impact were evaluated for eligibility, and VOSviewer aided in determining associativity for the bibliometric analysis. Results The findings of this study demostrate that the scientific production related to PBM adheres to a growth power law, exhibiting characteristics of both exponential and linear phases. Notably, recent research trends emphasize critical concepts such as laser therapy, orthodontics, and dental pulp stem cells. Particularly significant is the burgeoning interest in utilizing PBM within dentistry as a complementary alternative to existing protocols. Conclusions PBM stands as a promising laser therapy within medical applications. Through a detailed bibliometric analysis, this study underscores the increasing significance of PBM, especially within the realm of dental treatments. These insights offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of PBM research and provide valuable guidance for potential future directions of study.