ANALYSIS OF EVOLUTION OF SCIENTIFIC DENTAL JOURNALS WITH IMPACT FACTOR

INTRODUCTION: Scientific journals constitute the main tools for the advancement and development of Science. The journal impact factor by Thompson Reuters JCR is the most widely recognized indicator of journal prestige and influence. Recent advances in dentistry during the last decade had let to an increase in the number of journals, making dentistry a big presence in the scientific world. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of dental journals indexed in JCR during the last 10 years, meaning from 2002 to 2011. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic search in the database Web of Knowledge was performed to obtain the maximal number of indexed dental journals during the period of time 2002-2011. Journals were then organized by dental specialty and year. RESULTS: Regarding the absolute number of journals indexed in JCR in the past 10 years, the number remains constant during the first half of the decade and up to 2008, when an exponential increase in the number of indexed journals is observed. This trend seems to remain constant in relation to the rise in future years. It is perceived that the growth of the last five years has been 60% and the projection foresees growing in the coming years. The impact factor has remained more or less constant throughout the last decade, with a slight increase during the years 2003 to 2007, a period which coincides with the period of "growth zero" in the number of dental journals. However, from 2007 there is a slight decline, coinciding with the increase in the number of journals, which could be explained by increased competition and diversification of dental specialty journals.