In 2023, the number of scientific publications in Dentistry in South Africa stood at 59 units. Over the past decade, this field has experienced significant fluctuations in publication output. Notable peaks were observed in 2016 and 2021, with respective year-on-year variations of 20.75% and 61.02%, while drops were seen in 2017 and 2022 with decreases of 35.94% and 41.05% respectively. Recently, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past 5 years was 5.1%. The forecast from 2024 to 2028 suggests a modest increase, with an average CAGR of 2.23% and an overall 5-year growth rate of 11.67%.

Future Trends to Watch For:

Potential impact of new technologies and methodologies in dentistry on publication output.
Increased international collaboration leading to higher quality and quantity of research.
Institutional support and funding changes for dental research in South Africa.
Evolving healthcare policies and their influence on research priorities.