Journal Policies

1. Scope & Publication Types

The Nigerian Dental Journal publishes peer-reviewed, scientific articles relevant to the needs of dental, medical, and other health professionals in Nigeria and globally. The NDJ is published triannually (Print ISSN: 0189-1006).

Accepted contributions include: Clinical papers, Original research papers, Comprehensive reviews, Technical notes (surgical innovations and procedural techniques), Case reports, and Letters to the editor relating to dentistry and allied healthcare professions.

2. Manuscript Submissions & Exclusivity

All articles must be submitted online through the journal website. NDJ strictly accepts only original manuscripts that are not under consideration for publication elsewhere, have not been previously published in whole or in part, and will not be submitted to another venue while undergoing review with NDJ.

3. Ensuring Integrity in Editorial Authorship

In cases where authors are affiliated with the journal’s editorial leadership (Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, or Board Members), we implement a rigorous independent review protocol to eliminate any perception of bias. Upon submission of an editorial manuscript, the regular handling editor is immediately recused. A Guest Editor with subject-matter expertise is appointed to manage the review from start to finish. This Guest Editor operates completely independently, selecting external reviewers and making final decisions without consultation or input from the journal’s internal editorial team. This process guarantees that editorial submissions undergo the same rigorous, unbiased scrutiny as all other manuscripts.

4. Authorship Criteria & AI Authorship Position

Authorship in NDJ is strictly guided by the COPE Authorship Criteria. All listed authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition/analysis of data, manuscript drafting, and approval of the final version.

5. Editorial Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

To enhance the readability and linguistic quality of accepted manuscripts, the editorial office of the Nigerian Dental Journal may employ AI-powered language tools during the final stages of manuscript preparation. This process is aimed solely at improving grammar, syntax, clarity, and overall flow of the text.

6. Correction, Retraction, Republication & Version Control

The NDJ subscribes to the ICMJE Corrections & Version Control Standards. Honest errors are corrected via published Corrigenda or Errata linked bidirectionally to the original article. In cases of fraudulent data or severe ethical violation, formal Retraction notices are issued in strict compliance with COPE Retraction Guidelines.

7. Clinical Trial Registration Policy

All clinical trials must be prospectively registered in accordance with ICMJE Clinical Trial Registration Guidelines in a primary WHO-approved public registry (e.g. ClinicalTrials.gov, PACTR, ISRCTN). In the rare event of retrospective registration, this must be explicitly stated in the manuscript.

8. WAME Membership & Double-Anonymous Peer Review

The Nigerian Dental Journal subscribes to the editorial standards and ethics of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), of which our Editor-in-Chief is a member (recognizing that WAME is a professional standard-setting body, not an indexing service).

All articles undergo a strict double-anonymous peer-review process. Reviewers are selected based on clinical/research expertise, and conflicts of interest are managed according to COPE guidelines. Authors receive anonymized reviewer feedback with the editorial decision. In cases of disagreement, the final decision of the Editor-in-Chief, following expert consultation, is final.

9. Allegations of Misconduct & Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism

The NDJ has zero tolerance for plagiarism, data falsification, and academic misconduct. All manuscripts are screened for similarity (Turnitin / iThenticate). Submissions exhibiting unacceptable overlap are rejected immediately.

All allegations of misconduct must be substantiated and signed (though the Editorial Board exercises discretion in investigating anonymous reports if evidence warrants). When misconduct is proven, the paper is withdrawn/retracted and the author's home institution is formally notified in line with COPE Guidelines.

10. Advertisement Policy

Advertisements for dental equipment, medical consumables, pharmaceuticals, and academic conferences are welcome from the public, provided they are ethical, verified, and not related to harmful health habits or unverified clinical claims. Editorial content is entirely independent of commercial sponsorship.