Bibliometric Analysis of Ultrasonographic Imaging Research in the Temporomandibular Joint

Ultrasonography is a radiation-free, practical, relatively low-cost, and real-time imaging modality used in the evaluation of the temporomandibular joint, and numerous studies related to this topic have been reported in the literature. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the literature on ultrasonographic imaging of the temporomandibular joint using bibliometric analysis methods. The study data were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database using the search strategy ((ultrasound OR ultrasonography OR USG) AND (TMJ OR temporomandibular OR “temporomandibular joint”)). R, RStudio, Biblioshiny, and the bibliometrix package were used to perform the bibliometric analyses, including Annual Scientific Production, Keywords Co-occurrence Network Analysis, Thematic Map Analysis, and Thematic Evolution Analysis. A total of 354 articles were evaluated, and an overall increasing trend in annual scientific production was observed. The terms “ultrasonography” and “temporomandibular joint” were located at the center of the constructed network structure, while thematic analyses revealed that themes related to “temporomandibular disorders,” “masseter muscle,” “arthritis,” “magnetic resonance imaging,” and “arthrocentesis” were prominent in the literature. Over time, the research focus in the literature shifted toward more specific research areas. It was determined that ultrasonographic imaging of the temporomandibular joint has maintained its academic importance over time.