Top 100 Most Cited Articles on Stem Cell-based Regenerative Endodontics: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Evolution and Translational Gaps.

Abstract

Introduction: Stem cell-based regenerative endodontics has evolved into a biologically driven strategy for pulp-dentin complex regeneration. Despite substantial research output, the extent to which high-impact evidence has been translated into clinical practice remains poorly defined. Accordingly, this study aimed to systematically analyze the 100 most cited articles in this field to delineate research trends, characterize the knowledge structure, and identify key barriers to clinical translation.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS-CC) on July 11, 2026. Articles were ranked by citation count to identify the 100 most cited publications on stem cell-based regenerative endodontics. Data on publication and citation characteristics were extracted, including total citations, year of publication, authorship, institutional affiliations, and keywords. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were applied to assess consistency in citation counts.

Results: A total of 1,433 records were identified in the WoS-CC. After removing 62 records before screening (60 ineligible document types and 2 non-English records), 1,371 articles were screened. Following title/abstract screening, 317 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and the top 100 most cited publications were included in the bibliometric analysis. These articles accumulated 11,823 citations in the WoS-CC, 13,862 in Scopus, and 21,179 in Google Scholar. Scientific output increased markedly after 2008, whereas peak citation impact was observed between 2007 and 2012. The United States, China, and Japan were the leading contributors. Dental pulp stem cells were the most extensively studied cell population. Reviews constituted the largest study category (42%), followed by animal studies (38%), in vitro investigations (14%), and clinical studies (6%), highlighting the limited availability of high-level clinical evidence.

Conclusions: The most influential literature in stem cell-based regenerative endodontics remains largely confined to preclinical research, underscoring a persistent translational gap between experimental advances and clinical implementation. These findings highlight the need for rigorously designed clinical studies to enable the effective integration of these therapies into routine endodontic practice.