International journal of dentistry
Administrative Claims Databases in Dentistry: Current Applications, Methodological Trends, and Evidence Gaps: A Global Scoping Review of Dataset Characteristics
By Sato M, Ono S, Ishimaru M and 1 others.
Abstract
Objectives
Administrative claims databases are increasingly used in dental research. However, inconsistencies in data coverage and the lack of a global overview remain as challenges. This review aimed to summarize worldwide studies using dental administrative claims databases, focusing on research questions, methodologies, and findings to identify key trends and knowledge gaps.
Methods
Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), we conducted a scoping review of studies using dental administrative claims data published between January 2010 and December 2025. We structured the review question using the Population-Concept-Context framework. The original search through April 2022, as registered in PROSPERO, was updated in April 2026 using the same search strategy and eligibility criteria. We searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ichushi-Web, CiNii, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Two reviewers independently screened the records, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. Cohort and case-control studies were critically appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to characterize the methodological quality of the mapped literature.