Dental operating microscope use in endodontics: a bibliometric analysis

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the scientific literature on the use of the dental operating microscope (DOM) in endodontics through bibliometric methods and to evaluate publication trends, influential journals, authors, institutions, countries, and the thematic structure of the field. Methods: The literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. In the search strategy, the terms “dental operating microscope” OR “operating microscope” were combined with the term endodontic* to identify publications related to endodontics, and case reports were excluded. Only articles and reviews published in English were included in the analysis. The bibliometric analyses evaluated annual scientific production, the distribution of publications and citations over the years, the most productive journals, authors, institutions, and countries, as well as the most cited publications. In addition, a co-occurrence analysis based on author keywords and an author co-citation analysis were performed to investigate the conceptual and intellectual structure of the literature. Results: The findings showed that the earliest publication included in the analysis was published in 1993, and the highest annual publication counts were recorded in 2024 and 2025. The greatest number of publications appeared in the Journal of Endodontics and the International Endodontic Journal. The most prolific author was Martins JNR, while the leading institutions were Faculdade Sao Leopoldo Mandic and Universidade de Lisboa. At the country level, the United States ranked first. Keyword analysis revealed that the DOM literature clustered particularly around microscope-assisted clinical interventions, retreatment, fractured instrument management, and imaging-assisted approaches. Conclusion: Overall, this study highlights the growing scientific and clinical importance of the DOM in endodontics and provides a structured bibliometric framework for future research.