Mapping Funding Assistance for Bulk-fill Resin Composites: A Bibliometric Analysis of Published Studies Between 2014 and 2023.

Objective: The aim of this bibliometric analysis was to investigate the prevalence of bibliometric parameters related to clinical trials with bulk-fill resin composites according to financial assistance over time.

Methods: Five electronic databases were accessed (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, and Scopus) and seven bibliometric parameters related to geographic origin, year, impact factor, and publication details related to bulk-fill resin composite restorations and their clinical performance were considered. The prevalence ratio was applied using Poisson multiple regression analysis (α=0.05) to assess the association between funding and associated bibliometric parameters.

Results: In total, 59 clinical trials that analyzed the clinical performance of restorations with bulk-fill resin composites were published between 2014 and 2023 and were evaluated bibliometrically; 40.7% (n=24) of the studies reported financial assistance. Financing was associated with bibliometric parameters related to the consistency of the materials, specifically with studies involving sculptable and flowable composites funded more frequently (p<0.001) than studies evaluating only sculptable consistency. Studies that analyzed class I and II cavities showed greater financial assistance (p=0.028) compared to class I cavities, and financing increased as the journal's impact factor increased (p=0.013).

Conclusions: Financial assistance of clinical trials evaluating bulk-fill resin composite restorations was associated with material consistency, tooth cavity design, and journal impact factor bibliometric parameters.