When a manuscript is submitted, the author confirms that:
Initial Screening
Editors first check for originality, scientific strength, methodology, and relevance. Manuscripts lacking these elements may be rejected at this stage.
Peer Review
Suitable manuscripts are reviewed by at least two experts. Authors may suggest reviewers, but final selection is decided by the editor. We follow double-blind peer review, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous.
Revisions
Review comments are shared with the corresponding author. Authors must submit a point-wise reply along with a revised manuscript. This process continues until final acceptance.
Copyediting & Proofs
Accepted manuscripts are edited for grammar, formatting, and style. Page proofs are sent to the corresponding author, who must return corrections within 3 days.
Editorial Board Submissions
If an editorial board member submits an article, the manuscript is handled by an independent editor. All decisions, including peer review and acceptance, remain unbiased. Board members do not participate in decisions about their own manuscripts.
Appeals Process
Authors may appeal a rejection if they believe there was an error.
To appeal:
The journal follows the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) for clinical trial registration (https://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/publishing-and-editorial-issues/clinical-trial-registration.html). A clinical trial is defined as any research study that prospectively assigns participants to a health-related intervention to evaluate its effects on health outcomes.
All clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible trial registry at or before the enrolment of the first participant as a condition for publication. The selected registry should include the WHO–ICMJE minimum 24-item trial registration dataset (https://www.who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform) at the time of registration. If there is a delay in posting the registration details, authors must provide an explanation.
Secondary analyses of primary clinical trials should reference the original trial registration number and should not be registered separately. Authors are responsible for compliance with regulatory and funding requirements, accurate reporting of trial information, and adherence to the ICMJE data-sharing policy.
To enhance transparency and reproducibility, authors should adhere to relevant reporting guidelines based on study type:
Authors must include a completed checklist as a supplementary file during submission.
Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research work. According to ICMJE guidelines, authors must meet all of the following conditions:
Participation solely in funding acquisition, routine data collection, or general supervision does not justify authorship. Each listed author should have contributed enough to take public responsibility for the content of the manuscript. The order of authors should reflect the relative contribution of each contributor and cannot be changed without written consent from all authors. Clear and honest attribution ensures accountability, transparency, and ethical publishing practices. For full details, see: ICMJE Author Roles.
All authors must disclose financial or personal relationships that could influence their work.
Authors affiliated with the journal must declare that they had no role in decision-making for their manuscript.
Ethical clearance is mandatory for all research involving human participants, identifiable data, tissues, or animal subjects. Authors must provide the name of the Institutional Ethics Committee/Review Board, along with the approval number and date. Studies must confirm adherence to international ethical guidelines such as the Declaration of Helsinki and relevant national regulatory standards.
For case reports or series, written informed consent must be obtained from patients or their legal guardians and archived. Manuscripts must state: "Written informed consent was obtained." Anonymity must be ensured by removing all identifiable information (e.g., blur faces in photos). Studies involving animals must follow ARRIVE guidelines.
Authors must include a Data Availability Statement in all articles that use research data. This statement should clearly mention where the data can be found — for example, in a public repository, in the article or its supplementary files, or available on request from the corresponding author. If the data cannot be shared publicly, the authors must briefly state the reason and explain how it can be accessed, if applicable.
Each author must clearly describe their specific contribution to the study. Contributions may include work such as developing the concept, designing the study, conducting the literature search, collecting data, performing data or statistical analysis, and writing, editing, or reviewing the manuscript. One author must be designated as the guarantor or corresponding author, who will take overall responsibility for communication and the integrity of the submitted work.
AI tools may be used only for improving language or readability.
AI:
AI-generated images or figures must be disclosed and not used for data fabrication.
Our journal follows ICMJE and COPE standards, viewing plagiarism as a major ethical violation. It includes using others' work, ideas, words, data, or images as your own without citation—like direct copying or uncredited paraphrasing. We also ban self-plagiarism, reusing large parts of your prior work (e.g., text or figures) without proper citation and disclosure.
Every submission is screened with tools like iThenticate before review. Similarity over 15-20% (excluding references, methods, common phrases) triggers investigation. Confirmed plagiarism leads to rejection, correction, retraction, or institution notification per COPE guidelines.
Manuscripts must be submitted as separate documents to ensure a smooth peer-review and publication process. The following files are required at the time of submission:
Manuscripts should be prepared in English and submitted as Word file (.docx).
Cover Letter
A cover letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief must accompany each submission. The letter should briefly explain the importance, originality, and suitability of the manuscript for the journal and confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere.
Title Page
The title page should be submitted as a separate document and must include the following information:
Title
The manuscript title should be clear, concise, and informative, avoiding abbreviations. Where appropriate, the study design should be mentioned (e.g., case-control study, systematic review).
Author Names and Affiliations
Corresponding Author Details
Research Article
Introduction: The Introduction should define the context and background of the research, emphasizing the nature and clinical significance of the problem. Clearly indicate the precise objectives of the study along with any hypotheses tested. Authors should cite only highly relevant and current literature, ensuring that no data or findings from the current study are included in this section.
Materials and Methods: This section must provide a comprehensive description of the study design, the selection of subjects (human or animal), and the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Authors should concisely explain the experimental methodology, ensuring sufficient detail for reproducibility while referring to established techniques via appropriate citations. Any novel or modified methods must be described in depth. It is mandatory to include a statement confirming that the research was approved by an independent Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board, along with details regarding clinical trial registration and the type of patient consent obtained. Commercially produced materials, medical devices, and software must be identified by the manufacturer’s name and location. Statistical methods should be clearly specified to allow a knowledgeable reader to evaluate the suitability of the techniques used. Findings should be quantified with appropriate measures of uncertainty, such as confidence intervals, ensuring that the statistical approach aligns with ICMJE recommendations.
Results: Results should be stated succinctly without lengthy discussion or interpretation. Only the most significant observations should be highlighted; do not repeat all data already presented in tables or figures. Data must be provided for all primary and secondary outcomes listed in the Methods section. Statistical significance should be clearly indicated in tables and figures using sequential superscripts (e.g., a, b, c) rather than non-sequential symbols. Technical information or extensive supplemental data may be included in an appendix to maintain the flow of the text.
Discussion: The Discussion must focus on the new and important findings of the study, relating observations to other relevant literature in a logical sequence. It should summarize the results without repeating them in detail. Authors must distinguish between clinical and statistical significance and avoid making unqualified comments or drawing conclusions not sufficiently supported by the data. Connect the findings back to the study's original objectives and refrain from claiming priority or referencing incomplete work. A transparent acknowledgment of the study's limitations is mandatory, and new hypotheses may be presented only if clearly identified as such.
Conclusion: The conclusion should provide a concise summary of the study’s primary findings and offer insights into potential future research directions.
Clinical Significance: This section must include 2–3 sentences highlighting the direct relevance of the results to clinical dental practice, patient care, or the broader field of dentistry.
List of Abbreviations: Authors must include a comprehensive list of all abbreviations used in the manuscript along with their descriptions. Only standard, widely accepted abbreviations should be employed. Each term must be spelled out in full at its first mention in the text, followed by the abbreviation in parentheses, unless it represents a standard unit of measurement.
Review Article
Introduction: The Introduction must define the scope of the clinical dental topic, its historical context, and the specific objectives of the review. It should justify why a synthesis of current evidence is necessary for the dental community and clinical practitioners.
Search Strategy: Authors are required to include a brief description of the search strategy, identifying the databases queried (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane) and the specific keywords or MeSH terms used to curate the literature.
Summary (Mandatory): A structured summary must be included to highlight the most critical findings, current clinical trends, and significant gaps in existing medical knowledge identified during the review.
Discussion: This section should provide a critical interpretation of the synthesized evidence rather than a mere summary of studies. Authors must evaluate the strengths and limitations of the available data and suggest clear directions for future research.
Conclusion: Provide brief, impactful concluding remarks that summarize the overall status of the topic.
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Introduction: Clearly state the research question, the clinical problem, and the objectives of the review, ideally formulated using the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework.
Methodology: All systematic reviews and meta-analyses must strictly adhere to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. This section must transparently detail the search protocols, database selection, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the rigorous methods used for data extraction and synthesis. Registration with PROSPERO is strongly encouraged to ensure transparency and prevent duplication.
Results and Discussion: The Results must include a mandatory PRISMA Flow Diagram to illustrate the study selection process. The synthesized findings should be interpreted in the Discussion, focusing on the quality of evidence, risk of bias, and the implications for clinical practice.
Summary and Conclusion: Conclude with a summary of the evidence-based findings and provide definitive concluding remarks.
Case Report and Case Series
Introduction: Provide a brief background emphasizing the uniqueness, rarity, or educational importance of the case(s) presented.
Case Presentation: Follow the CARE guidelines to provide a detailed chronological description of the clinical history, physical examination, diagnostic investigations, management strategies, and final outcomes.
Ethical Requirements: Patient anonymity is an absolute requirement; all identifiable markers must be removed. A formal statement confirming that written informed consent was obtained from the patient or legal guardian for publication is mandatory.
Discussion: Contrast the findings with existing literature and emphasize the key clinical lessons learned or the novel management approach utilized.
Conclusion and Clinical Significance: Conclude with a brief summary and 3–4 sentences highlighting the case’s relevance to clinical practice.
Short Communication and Commentary
Introduction: Briefly state the background and the specific reason for the communication, whether it is preliminary research data or an expert viewpoint.
Main Text: Provide a cohesive discussion of the observations, findings, or opinions. While subheadings are not strictly required, the narrative should follow a logical flow. If reporting preliminary data, ensure the methodology is described concisely.
Conclusion: Summarize the core message and its potential impact on the field of dentistry.
Editorial and Letter to the Editor
Editorial: Editorials provide high-level perspectives on specific clinical issues or articles published within the journal. They do not require a standardized structure but should offer evidence-based commentary. References and figures should be kept to a minimum.
Letter to the Editor: These are brief communications (300–800 words) addressing recently published articles or topics of urgent interest. They do not require an abstract. If a letter critiques a published study, it must be submitted within six months of the original publication to allow for a timely rebuttal from the authors.
Authors must submit the completed checklist for their specific study type:
All manuscripts must include a separate “Declarations” document. If any item is not applicable, authors must state “Not Applicable” with a brief justification.
The declarations section should include, where applicable:
The following table outlines requirements for each article type:
|
Article Type |
Word Limit* |
Abstract |
Key Structure |
References |
Figures/Tables Limit |
|
Research Article |
2000–4000 words (Not including the abstract, acknowledgments, tables, figure legends, or references). |
Structured (150–250 words): Background, Aim/Objectives, Materials and Methods, Results, Conclusion Keywords (3–7) |
Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion |
15–70, formatted in Vancouver style. |
Figures: Max 8 (300 DPI) |
|
Review Article |
2500–5000 words (Not including the abstract, acknowledgments, tables, figure legends, or references). |
Unstructured (150–250 words) Keywords (3–7) |
Introduction, Summary: Mandatory section, Discussion, Conclusion |
20–100 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures: Max 8 (300 DPI) |
|
Meta-analysis/Systematic Review |
2500–5000 words (Not including the abstract, acknowledgments, tables, figure legends, or references). |
Structured (150–300 words): Keywords (3–7) |
Introduction, Methodology, Data Synthesis, Result Analysis, and Discussion, with a mandatory Summary. All sections must strictly follow PRISMA guidelines. |
15–80 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures: Max 8 (300 DPI) |
|
Case Report |
1000–2500 words |
Unstructured (Maximum 150 words) Keywords (3–5) |
Introduction, Case Presentation Discussion, Conclusion |
8–25 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures: Max 8 (300 DPI) |
|
Case Series |
1500–2500 |
Unstructured (Maximum 150 words) |
Intro, Case Series Presentation, Discussion, Conclusion |
12–25 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures: Max 12 (300 DPI) |
|
Short Communication/Commentary |
600–1500 words |
Not required |
Introduction, (Main Text), Conclusion |
5–15 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures/Tables: Max 3 (300 DPI) |
|
Editorial/Guest Editorial |
600–1200 words |
Not required |
(No standardized structure) |
Optional, up to 10 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures/Tables: Max 2 (300 DPI) |
|
Letter-to-Editor |
300–800 words |
Not required |
(No standardized structure) |
3–8 (Vancouver Style) |
Figures/Tables: Max 2 (300 DPI) |
The journal follows the National Library of Medicine (NLM) reference style and adheres to the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Authors are required to prepare references according to the Vancouver referencing style. Limited flexibility may be applied for unpublished materials, online resources, and non-indexed content, where appropriate.
How to Cite References (In-Text Citations)
References must be numbered consecutively according to the order in which they are first cited in the text. If a source is cited multiple times, the original assigned number must be reused consistently throughout the manuscript. For references appearing only in tables, figures, or legends, numbering should follow the first mention of the respective table or figure in the main text. Please note that citations are not permitted in the abstract. All in-text citations should be indicated using superscript Arabic numerals (e.g.,16) and must be placed after punctuation marks, such as periods and commas. Authors should not include active hyperlinks for these citations within the main text.
Examples:
Reference List Preparation
The full list of references should be provided at the end of the manuscript under the heading "References." Journal titles must be abbreviated in accordance with the NLM Catalog database. When listing authors, provide the names of all authors if they are six or fewer; for sources with more than six authors, list the first six followed by "et al." It is mandatory to include Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for all cited references where available to ensure persistent linking (refer to https://www.doi.org/). For online or web-based resources, authors must provide the complete URL along with the date of access. Ultimately, the accuracy, completeness, and correctness of all bibliographic data remain the sole responsibility of the authors.
Reference List Preparation
The author’s surname should be followed by the first initials. This should be followed by the article title, the journal title using its standard abbreviated form, the year of publication, the volume number with issue number in parentheses (if available), the page range, and the DOI of the article.
Standard journal article
(Note: List all authors if 6 or fewer; if more than 6, list first 6 followed by "et al.")
Format: Author AA, Author BB, Author CC, Author DD, Author EE, Author FF. Title of article. Abbreviated Journal Name. Year; Volume (Issue): Page numbers. DOI
Example (Up to 6 authors)
Haug SR, Virtej A, Sunde PT, Fristad I. Ethical considerations and legal allegations in endodontic practice. Eur J Oral Sci. 2025;e70043. https://doi.org/10.1111/eos.70043
Example (More than 6 authors)
Reis-Prado AH, Abreu LG, Tavares WLF, Peixoto IFC, Viana ACD, Oliveira EMC, et al. Comparison between immediate and delayed post space preparations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Investig. 2021;25(2):417–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-020-03690-x
Books and Other Monographs
Personal Author(s):
Format: Author AA, Author BB. Title of Book. Edition number (if not 1st). City of Publication: Publisher; Year.
Miles DA, Van Dis ML, Williamson GF, Jensen CW. Radiographic Imaging for the Dental Team. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier; 2009.
Chapter in an Edited Book:
Format: Author AA. Chapter Title. In: Editor BB, Editor CC, editors. Title of Book. Edition number (if not 1st). City of Publication: Publisher; Year. p. page range
Magne P, Belser U. Understanding the intact tooth and the biomimetic principle. In: Magne P, Belser U, editors. Bonded porcelain restorations in the anterior dentition: a biomimetic approach. Chicago: Quintessence Publishing; 2002. p. 23–56.
Conference Proceedings
Format: Editor AA, Editor BB, editors. Title of proceedings. Conference Name; YYYY Mon DD–DD; Location of conference. City of publication: Publisher; Year. Total pages p.
Chavez-Arana C, Genco RJ, editors. 92nd General Session & Exhibition of the IADR; 2014 Jun 25–28; Cape Town, South Africa. Alexandria (VA): International Association for Dental Research; 2014. 210 p.
Conference Paper
Format: Author AA, Author BB. Title of paper. In: Editor CC, Editor DD, editors. Title of Book. Proceedings of the [Conference Name]; Date of conference YYYY Mon DD-DD; Location of conference. City of Publication: Publisher; Year. p. page range.
Kong LX, Mandloi S, She FH, Ngo H. Detection and measurement of microleakage in dental fillings using microtomy technology. In: Proceedings of the International Manufacturing Leaders Forum; 2006; Taipei, Taiwan. Perth (AU): University of Western Australia; 2006. p. 1–5.
Dissertation/Thesis
Format: Author AA. Title [type of thesis]. Place of Publication: Institution; Year.
Koubaytari M. Student’s oral health knowledge, oral health practices, and their susceptibility to oral health diseases at a Midwestern University [master’s thesis]. Mankato (MN): Minnesota State University, Mankato; 2017.
Other Published Material
Newspaper Article
Format: Author AA. Title of article. Title of newspaper. Date of publication Year Mon DD;Section:page range. [Internet]. Available from: URL. Accessed Year Mon DD.
Sundaram RM. Wrong tooth extraction: dist court fines dentist 2.5L. The Times of India. 2025 Dec 30; [Internet]. Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/wrong-tooth-extraction-dist-court-fines-dentist-2-5l/articleshow/126238292.cms. Accessed 2025 Dec 31.
Unpublished Material
Preprints
Peres KG, Reher P, Dias de Castro R, Vieira AR. COVID-19-related challenges in dental education: experiences from Australia, Brazil, and the USA [Preprint]. SciELO Preprints [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Dec 31]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/SciELOPreprints.779
Recommended Reference Guidelines
Authors are encouraged to consult the following international guidelines while preparing references:
Note: The examples provided above are illustrative of common reference types in Vancouver style. For a comprehensive list of reference formats and additional examples, authors are advised to refer to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Citing Medicine guidelines at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7256/., facilitating seamless article retrieval and citation accuracy.