Protein Biomarkers in Periodontal Disease: A Bibliometric Review

Background This bibliometric study examines research on protein biomarkers in periodontal disease, a condition requiring early and accurate diagnosis. Despite available diagnostic tools, their limitations highlight protein biomarkers as a promising, yet clinically unvalidated, alternative. Methodology: A bibliometric review was conducted using Web of Science Core Collection, focusing exclusively on human clinical studies and excluding animal, in vitro, and in silico research. Two independent authors evaluated titles, abstracts, and full texts following transparency principles inspired by PRISMA. Tools including bibliometrix/Biblioshiny were used to generate bibliometric indicators, collaboration networks, and thematic structures. Results From 191 records identified between 2006–2025, 112 studies met inclusion criteria, showing sustained growth with marked increase in the last five years. Journal of Clinical Periodontology and Journal of Periodontal Research were the main publishing venues. China, the United States, and Italy led scientific production. The most cited articles were König et al., Miller et al., and Liu et al. Thematic analysis revealed an evolution from inflammatory mediator studies toward advanced proteomic approaches, establishing "proteomics" as the dominant contemporary theme. Conclusions Protein biomarker research in periodontal disease shows sustained growth, led by countries with strong molecular research capacity, highlighting proteomic diagnostics and a consolidated agenda toward clinical translation of salivary and gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers. Clinical relevance: This study summarizes the current state of research on protein biomarkers in periodontal disease, providing useful evidence to inform the development and future validation of diagnostic tools with potential clinical application.