Bibliometric analysis of the scientific dental literature from Chile 1998-2008

Aim: to assess the bibliometric profile of chilean scientific publications.
Materials and methods: A search in ISI Web of science database was performed to find any publication between 1998 to 2008. The data were tabulated and information about institutions, authors and impact were recovered. The h-index was calculated.
Results: a total of 161 publications were found. The University of Chile leads the productivity with 73%, followed by University of Concepción (9%) and University of Valparaiso (5%). Five authors were responsible for nearly the half of the total biomedical output: Miralles R (37), Santander H (20), Gamonal J (19), López NJ (17) and Valenzuela S (13). The chilean publications were referenced by 1,383 others publications (mean 8.53 per publication). The countries that appear chilean publications were USA (16), Spain (14), Sweden (10) and Denmark (7). The most usual journal were chilean authors publish were Cranio (27), J Periodontol (27), J Clin Periodontol (11), Cleft Palate Craniofac J (9), Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod (9), Community Dent Oral Epidemiol (8), J Periodontal Res (7) y Dent Traumatol (6).
Conclusions: A small group of researchers explain most of the chilean scientific productivity. The increment in dental schools hasn't had any effect publications terms. The scientific impact has growing exponentially the last years, particularly in Periodontics, the field with more peer and country collaboration. The h-index for Chile was 18.
The contribution of chilean scientific production concerning dentistry, has increased in recent years, but a higher level of cooperation between research centers and institutions is desirable.