**Scientific Trends in Clinical Research on Zirconia Dental Implants: A Bibliometric Review**

#### **Felice Lorusso 1,2 , Sammy Noumbissi 1,2 , Inchingolo Francesco <sup>3</sup> , Biagio Rapone <sup>4</sup> , Ahmad G. A. Khater <sup>5</sup> and Antonio Scarano 1,2,\***


Received: 18 October 2020; Accepted: 2 December 2020; Published: 4 December 2020

**Abstract:** Background: The clinical use of zirconia implants has been shown to increase steadily due to their biological, aesthetic, and physical properties; therefore, this bibliometric study aimed to review the clinical research and co-authors in the field of zirconia dental implant rehabilitation. Methods: We searched Scopus and Web of Science databases using a comprehensive search strategy to 5 October 2020, and independently paired reviewers who screened studies, and collected data with inclusion criteria restricted to clinical research only (either prospective or retrospective). Data on article title, co-authors, number of citations received, journal details, publication year, country and institution involved, funding, study design, marginal bone loss, survival rate, failure, follow-up, and the author's bibliometric data were collected and evaluated. Results: A total of 29 clinical studies were published between 2008 and 2020 as 41.4% were prospective cohort studies and 48.3% originated from Germany. Most of the included studies had been published in Clinical Oral Implant Research (*n* = 12), and the most productive institution was the Medical Center of University of Freiburg. The author with the largest number of clinical studies on zirconia implants was Kohal R.J. (*n* = 10), followed by Spies B.C. (*n* = 8). Conclusions: This study revealed that zirconia implants have been more prominent in the last ten years, which is a valuable option for oral rehabilitation with marginal bone loss and survival rate comparable to titanium dental implants.

**Keywords:** zirconia implant; bibliometrics; citations; scientometric
