OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to identify the top 10 most-cited articles on the management of fractured or broken instruments and to perform a bibliometric analysis thereof. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Published articles related to fractured instruments were screened from online databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, and highly cited papers, with at least 50 citations since publication, were identified. The most-cited articles were selected and analysed with regard to publication title, authorship, the journal of publication, year, institution, country of origin, article type, and number of citations. RESULTS: The top 10 most-cited articles were from various journals. Most were published in the Journal of Endodontics, followed by the International Endodontic Journal, and Dental Traumatology. The leading countries were Australia, Israel, Switzerland, the USA, and Germany, and the leading institution was the University of Melbourne. The majority of articles among the top 10 articles were clinical research studies (n = 8), followed by a basic research article and a non-systematic review article. CONCLUSIONS: This bibliometric analysis revealed interesting information about scientific progress in endodontics regarding fractured instruments. Overall, clinical research studies and basic research articles published in high-impact endodontic journals had the highest citation rates.
Australia ; Authorship ; Bibliometrics ; Endodontics ; Germany ; Israel ; Publications ; Root Canal Preparation ; Switzerland ; Traumatology

Despite the vast literature on the effects of root canal irrigants on the dentin characteristics, the precise effects of clinically relevant irrigation sequences remain unclear. In this review, we systematically dissect the role of different sequential irrigation approaches that are used in clinical endodontics. Using a systematic search strategy, we attempt to answer the question: ‘Which irrigating sequence has the most deleterious effects on dentin structure and properties?’ The effect of irrigants on the dentin composition and mechanical properties have been reviewed. A wide variety of concentrations, duration and techniques have been employed to characterize the effects of chemicals on dentin properties, thus making it impossible to draw guidelines or recommendations of irrigant sequences to be followed clinically. It was apparent that all the studied irrigation sequences potentially result in some deleterious effects on dentin such as decrease in the flexural strength, microhardness, modulus of elasticity and inorganic content and organic-inorganic ratio of the dentin.However, the literature still lacks comprehensive investigations to compare the deleterious effect of different irrigation sequences, using a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. Such investigations are essential to make clinical recommendations and strategize efforts to minimize chemically-induced damage to dentin characteristics.

Despite the vast literature on the effects of root canal irrigants on the dentin characteristics, the precise effects of clinically relevant irrigation sequences remain unclear. In this review, we systematically dissect the role of different sequential irrigation approaches that are used in clinical endodontics. Using a systematic search strategy, we attempt to answer the question: ‘Which irrigating sequence has the most deleterious effects on dentin structure and properties?’ The effect of irrigants on the dentin composition and mechanical properties have been reviewed. A wide variety of concentrations, duration and techniques have been employed to characterize the effects of chemicals on dentin properties, thus making it impossible to draw guidelines or recommendations of irrigant sequences to be followed clinically. It was apparent that all the studied irrigation sequences potentially result in some deleterious effects on dentin such as decrease in the flexural strength, microhardness, modulus of elasticity and inorganic content and organic-inorganic ratio of the dentin.However, the literature still lacks comprehensive investigations to compare the deleterious effect of different irrigation sequences, using a wide variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. Such investigations are essential to make clinical recommendations and strategize efforts to minimize chemically-induced damage to dentin characteristics.