Trends in sleep dentistry research in Asia: A bibliometric analysis

Introduction

Sleep dentistry, or dental sleep medicine, is a burgeoning interdisciplinary domain that emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of sleep-related problems, including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep-breathing complications. This discipline has gained prominence as dentists increasingly acknowledge their essential role in detecting these conditions through routine examinations and patient interactions, which can disclose symptoms such as snoring and daytime hypersomnolence (Correa & Acosta-Torres, 2024; Smith & Smith, 2017). The amalgamation of dental procedures with sleep medicine facilitates unique treatment alternatives, including the utilization of bespoke intraoral gadgets that are both efficacious and economical (de Oliveira, de Oliveira Júnior, & Guedes, 2023; Mazumder). Moreover, the collaboration of dentists, sleep specialists, and other healthcare practitioners improves patient care by addressing the intricate relationship between dental health and sleep quality (Cistulli & Balasubramaniam, 2024; Lobbezoo et al., 2020). With the advancement of research and clinical practices, dental sleep medicine is anticipated to emerge as a recognized specialty, markedly enhancing the management of sleep disorders and overall patient well-being.

Recent studies in sleep dentistry in Asia underscore notable developments and trends that conform to worldwide norms while also tackling region-specific challenges. There has been a notable increase in interest in the topic, especially regarding OSA, which is a significant concern due to its substantial effects on quality of life and related health risks, including cardiovascular disorders (Wadhawan et al., 2024). The formation of entities such as the Asian Sleep Research Society (ASRS) and the Asian Society of Sleep Medicine (ASSM) has promoted the advancement of sleep research and education in 29 Asian nations, highlighting deficiencies in accreditation and training that require rectification (BaHammam et al., 2024; Okuma, 1995). Moreover, multidisciplinary collaboration among dentists, sleep physicians, and other healthcare providers is increasingly prioritized, mirroring a global trend towards integrated care in the management of sleep-related diseases (Correa & Acosta-Torres, 2024). Asia’s study on sleep dentistry reflects global trends while distinctly emphasizing cultural and epidemiological factors relevant to the region (Okuma, 1995; Wadhawan et al., 2024).

Despite sleep dentistry is increasingly acknowledged as a vital interdisciplinary discipline that addresses sleep-related respiratory issues and their implications for dental health, research in this area remains comparatively underdeveloped in most Asian nations. Despite the heightened global interest in sleep dentistry, significant discrepancies remain in research output, theme concentration, methodological robustness, and international collaboration within the Asian area (Herrero Babiloni & Lavigne, 2018; Huang, 2009; Niu et al., 2023; Pan et al., 2022). Furthermore, the integration of emerging technologies—such as digital diagnostics, telemedicine, and machine learning—continues to be constrained within the regional context (Hasan et al., 2024; Joda et al., 2020; Perez-Pozuelo et al., 2020; Van Noort, 2012). Structural and structural obstacles, such as inadequate research funding, restricted access to modern diagnostic technology, a deficiency of trained personnel, and disjointed policy frameworks, further hinder advancement in this domain (BaHammam et al., 2024; BaHammam et al., 2025; Cherasse, 2011). These constraints impede the advancement of substantial, context-specific evidence and diminish the prominence of Asian research in global discussions and guideline creation. To rectify this deficiency, it is essential to carefully delineate the landscape of sleep dentistry research in Asia utilizing bibliometric analysis.

Bibliometric analysis holds limited importance, as it only slightly enhances researchers’ comprehension of the topic and offers ambiguous indications for possible avenues of future exploration. Bibliometric analysis is uniquely suited to address these gaps by quantifying research trends, mapping collaborative networks, and identifying underexplored areas—offering a data-driven foundation for policy and strategic prioritization. Prior studies have examined sleep dentistry in isolated contexts, but none have systematically analyzed the entire Asian landscape or integrated multidisciplinary contributions (e.g., dental technology, pharmacology, and public health) into a cohesive regional framework.

Methods

Results

Publication output

The concluding bibliometric analysis comprised a total of 1,237 papers following the screening procedure.

Figure 1 illustrates the increase in the volume of articles pertaining to sleep dentistry. Table 1 illustrates the geographical distribution of the top ten nations engaged in research pertaining to sleep dentistry. China distinguished itself as the foremost contributor, presenting 130 publications, followed by the United States of America with 96 publications, and India with 61 publications. The nation exhibiting the preeminent ratio of Multiple Country Publications (MCP) was the United Kingdom, with a figure of 62.7, succeeded by Australia at 60.3 and Canada at 58.5.

Figure 1. The distribution of articles by year.

Table 1. Top 10 countries that published in 1989–2025.

Rank	Country	Articles	Articles %	SCP	MCP	MCP %
1	China	130	11.2	81	49	37.7
2	Usa	96	8.3	50	46	47.9
3	India	61	5.3	41	20	32.8
4	United Kingdom	59	5.1	22	37	62.7
5	Australia	58	5	23	35	60.3
6	Canada	53	4.6	22	31	58.5
7	Japan	43	3.7	32	11	25.6
8	Iran	30	2.6	23	7	23.3
9	Brazil	29	2.5	20	9	31
10	Malaysia	28	2.4	17	11	39.3

Figure 2 illustrates the interconnected web of nations that have engaged in a minimum of five collaborative research endeavors.

Figure 2. The co-authorship network of country that contributed to the topic during 1989 and 2025.

Supplementary Table 1 presents the top ten institutions that have demonstrated significant productivity in the realm of sleep dentistry research. Tehran University of Medical Sciences emerges as the most distinguished institution, boasting an impressive total of 336 published articles. It is followed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which has contributed 192 publications, and the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, with a commendable 167 articles to its name.

The VOSviewer tool was utilized to conduct a co-authorship analysis, with the objective of providing a comprehensive representation of the complete network of countries engaged in sleep dentistry research. The extent of collaboration between two nations is ascertained by the number of publications they have jointly authored, with each nation contributing at least five articles to the collective output. The analysis of authorship by country revealed the emergence of six distinct clusters, as depicted in Supplementary Figure 1.

A total of 5,828 experts contributed to the publication of 1,237 scientific articles on sleep dentistry research. Supplementary Table 2 provides a comprehensive overview of the ten most prolific authors in the field of sleep dentistry research. Wang Y is a notable author with 36 scholarly works on the subject. The author’s impact is also detailed in Supplementary Table 3.

Co-occurrence analysis of top 10 keywords

The 1,237 articles were categorized into five keyword clusters. The 10 most often used terms in the retrieved articles are listed in Supplementary Table 4. The analysis of the co-occurrence of the top 10 terms identified the research hotspots in the domain of dental caries ( Figure 3).

Figure 3. The co-occurrence network of the top 10 keywords in this research, 1989–2025.

The top 10 keywords were collected and clustered using the visualization application VOSviewer. We used VOSviewer to create a visual network map of the top 10 keywords in five clusters, including their co-occurrence. The colors denote the 5 clusters: red (cluster 1, 153 items), green (cluster 2, 116 items), blue (cluster 3, 79 items), yellow (cluster 4, 49 items), and purple (cluster 5, 18 items). The node label is the keyword, and the number of keywords determines the size of the label. The connection joins two nodes that represent the relationship of two terms.

Discussion

This study represents, to our understanding, the inaugural bibliometric analysis concentrated specifically on the domain of sleep dentistry. The findings suggest an increasing engagement from Asian scholars in investigating novel methodologies and utilizing cutting-edge technologies to tackle significant challenges within this field. The consistent rise in publications from 1989 to 2025 emphasizes the growing significance of sleep dentistry within both academic and clinical spheres, reflecting its developing role as a pertinent public health issue in the region.

Research on sleep dentistry in Asia has garnered significant attention recently, with China emerging as a primary contributor, followed by the United States and India. These countries have emerged as essential contributors to the advancement of the discipline and the enhancement of academic production. Research undertaken throughout the region has enhanced comprehension of sleep-associated dental disorders—specifically OSA and bruxism—and their ramifications for both oral and systemic health (Tay et al., 2020; Wan Yong Tan et al., 2019; Yap et al., 2023). By integrating several data sources, such as craniofacial morphology, polysomnographic evaluations, behavioral elements, and demographic attributes, researchers have identified essential risk variables and improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches (Flores-Mir et al., 2013). These patterns indicate a rising worldwide and regional interest in sleep dentistry, with Asian nations assuming an increasingly significant role in the field’s advancement (BaHammam et al., 2024; Neelapu et al., 2017; Wan, 2024). Collaborative efforts among academics, physicians, and academic institutions around Asia highlight the region’s dedication to enhancing sleep-related oral health studies and increasing clinical outcomes (Lyons et al., 2020).

The research environment of sleep dentistry in Asia demonstrates significant productivity among prominent universities. Tehran University of Medical Sciences is the foremost university in this domain, demonstrating a robust dedication to furthering research on sleep-related oral disorders, specifically obstructive sleep apnea and bruxism. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences actively engages in the scholarly discussion regarding the impact of sleep dentistry on enhancing dental and systemic health. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences holds the third position, thereby enhancing the global corpus of knowledge regarding sleep dentistry and its therapeutic applications. The commitment of these universities to sleep dentistry research highlights a regional initiative in Asia aimed at improving diagnostic precision and treatment results in dental healthcare for patients with sleep-related illnesses.

Of note, the utilization of pharmacological agents, especially drugs and hypnotics, in the treatment of OSA has received considerable focus in recent years. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the established gold standard for the treatment of OSA, pharmaceutical methods are being investigated as supplementary or alternative therapies, particularly for individuals who are intolerant to CPAP or want non-invasive solutions (Bosi et al., 2021; Khurana et al., 2021). Hypnotic drugs, including benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine sleep aids, are occasionally employed to enhance sleep quality and diminish arousals linked to OSA (Carter & Eckert, 2021; Hasan et al., 2023; Sys et al., 2020); nonetheless, their administration necessitates vigilant oversight due to the risk of respiratory depression and exacerbation of airway blockage (Tietjens et al., 2019). Alternative medications, including modafinil, have been examined for their efficacy in reducing daytime somnolence in people with OSA, however they do not rectify the fundamental airway obstruction (Kuan et al., 2016; Pitre et al., 2023). The utilization of innovative pharmacotherapies, such as serotonin agonists and orexin receptor antagonists, demonstrates potential in modulating sleep-wake cycles and enhancing sleep architecture and respiratory performance during sleep (Clark et al., 2020; Janto, Prichard, & Pusalavidyasagar, 2018; Kron et al., 2024). Nonetheless, these pharmacological interventions include dangers, necessitating meticulous patient selection and monitoring in the management of OSA to reconcile therapeutic advantages with safety issues (Horner, 2023).

This bibliometric analysis yields important implications for policy development, collaborative efforts, and clinical practice in Asia. The prominence of nations such as China, India, and Iran in research output, along with the significant level of international collaborations in countries like the UK and Australia, highlights the necessity for focused funding initiatives to address disparities in capacity and infrastructure within the region. National research agendas should prioritize multidisciplinary projects that integrate dental sleep medicine with public health and technology, such as telemedicine or AI-driven diagnostics, especially in underrepresented regions. The identified collaborative clusters, centered around institutions such as Tehran University of Medical Sciences and AIIMS, offer a framework for regional networks, indicating that centers of excellence may guide emerging research groups via formal partnerships. The prevalence of OSA and bruxism underscores deficiencies in standardized diagnostic protocols and the availability of affordable treatments, such as cost-effective oral appliances. This situation calls for policymakers to implement guidelines that reflect the epidemiological and socioeconomic diversity of the region. Utilizing these insights, stakeholders can allocate resources to high-impact areas, promote cross-border knowledge exchange, and effectively translate research into equitable healthcare solutions for sleep-related disorders in Asia.

Although this bibliometric analysis offers intriguing insights, it is essential to acknowledge the significant limitations that must be considered. The reliance on the Scopus database could lead to the exclusion of important articles from diverse sources. The accuracy of the metadata linked to the articles further constrains the study. Furthermore, bibliometric analysis emphasizes quantitative assessments over qualitative evaluations of research outcomes and methodologies. In light of these constraints, the findings underscore the growing significance of exploring the overarching trends in sleep dentistry across Asia, which could inform future therapeutic approaches and research directions.

Conclusion

We have observed a growing body of research in the field of sleep dentistry throughout Asia. The bibliometric analysis delineates prominent authors, collaborative networks, and nascent topics, encompassing obstructive sleep apnea, bruxism, and their interplay with dental health. This observation highlights an emerging trend in research spanning from 1989 to 2025. This bibliometric analysis highlights the significant role of bibliometric methods in influencing the future of sleep dentistry research and practice in Asia by offering concrete, actionable insights. The findings identify key strategic priorities, with China, India, and Iran emerging as significant research contributors. Additionally, gaps in underrepresented regions such as Southeast Asia are highlighted, serving as a crucial guide for directing funding and capacity-building initiatives. This study identifies six distinct co-authorship clusters that serve as models for enhancing regional collaboration, providing a framework for integrating institutions from lower-output areas into established research networks. Moreover, although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bruxism are prevalent in current research, the insufficient emphasis on pediatric sleep disorders and cost-effective interventions highlights significant gaps that necessitate further investigation in future studies. This analysis quantifies disparities in research productivity and international collaboration, highlighting the higher ratio of multinational publications in Western nations. It provides evidence to support the development of Asia-centric clinical guidelines and resource-sharing policies. These insights provide policymakers, researchers, and clinicians with essential evidence to enhance strategic investments, fortify cross-border collaborations, and convert research into equitable healthcare solutions that address Asia’s specific public health challenges in sleep dentistry.

Ethics and consent

Ethical approval and consent were not required.