A descriptive bibliometric and thematic analysis of postgraduate theses in endodontics in Turkiye

Aims: This study aimed to conduct a descriptive bibliometric and thematic analysis of postgraduate theses in the field of endodontics in Turkiye according to year, thesis type, affiliated university, research topic, study area, and methodological approach, based on records retrieved from the National Thesis Center. Methods: This descriptive bibliometric study included theses conducted in the field of endodontics in Turkiye between 1976 and 2025 and registered in the National Thesis Center. A total of 1110 theses were identified. Data were extracted and categorized according to year, thesis type, gender, advisor academic title, research topics, study areas, and methodological approaches. The obtained data were analyzed and classified into thematic and methodological categories. Graphical bibliometric networks were created using VOS viewer software. Results: A total of 1110 theses were analyzed; 63.3% were conducted by female and 36.7% by male researchers. The majority of the theses were specialty (64.8%) and doctoral (34.1%) studies. A significant increase in the number of theses was observed after 2010. The most frequently studied topics were antimicrobial effectiveness (5.3%), irrigation activation techniques (4.1%), and apical extrusion (4.1%). In terms of study areas, rotary instruments (12.3%), root canal sealers (6.5%), and irrigation solutions (6.1%) were the most common. Among the specific methodological categories, imaging and microscopic analyses (34.1%) and mechanical/physical tests (16.2%) were predominant, while clinical studies accounted for 13.5%. A statistically significant relationship was found between thesis type and research methodology (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that postgraduate theses in the field of endodontics in Turkiye have increased over time, are concentrated in specific thematic areas, and show research trends parallel to the international literature.