Therefore, a clear need existed for a dental journal in the Kingdom. A timely bold decision was then taken by the senior dental leadership at that time to start a dental journal. The Saudi Dental Journal was launched in 1989 with the main aim of providing a publication access to dental researchers/clinicians in the Kingdom and Gulf area in their research activities. The initiation of this new peer-reviewed dental journal was a significant milestone for the profession. It was no doubt a challenging task, which since then has been successfully met through team work and zealous contribution by members of the dental profession in the Kingdom and from other Gulf countries.

The Saudi Dental Journal has completed 17 years of uninterrupted publication in 2005. During this period, 17 volumes (total of 52 issues) have been printed containing 431 scientific papers, reviews, case reports and editorials. The Saudi Dental Journal publishes three issues every year (except in 1990 when four issues were published). The Saudi Dental Journal team is headed by an editor-in chief who is supported by two assistant editors and an Editorial Board. Members of the Editorial Board are made up of experienced researchers and clinicians from various dental disciplines including a biostatistician. The Editorial Board meets regularly to appraise the reviewers' comments and make final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of every article. Very few dental journals are known to follow this type of procedure. It is not possible to maintain an optimum standard of any scientific journal without a firm peer-review system. Fortunately, the journal has been able to maintain a very prestigious list of reviewers for its peer-review process. The list of the reviewers for a preceding year is published in the first issue of each new volume, with acknowledgement of their services for the journal.

Since its inception, the Saudi Dental Journal (SDJ) has attracted manuscripts from dental professionals from all over the world. Nineteen percent of the articles published till 2005 were received from countries other than Saudi Arabia especially Jordan, United States of America and Kuwait (Figure). One of the main objectives mentioned in the first issue of SDJ was that the journal would act as central information network for dentists in the Kingdom and Gulf area. After 17 years of its publication, SDJ has not only achieved its original goal but has built up such a reputation in neighboring countries that they consider SDJ as an international journal approved for their faculty promotion exercises.

The Saudi Dental Journal is dedicated to continued growth of dental profession and continuing dental education. The journal has published research articles, review articles, invited papers, guest editorials and case reports covering all areas of dentistry over the past seventeen years. However, epidemiological studies (21.0%) and case-reports (17.5%) have predominated.

The Saudi Dental Journal plans to switch soon to on-line manuscript submission, reviewing and editing system, which will be a new step forward in the evolution of this peer-reviewed journal. The new on-line system will significantly reduce the turnaround time for submitted manuscripts.

More and more scientific journals are becoming available on-line. The Saudi Dental Journal is also planning to provide such services to its readers, so that articles and issues may be disseminated through email, PDF files and web pages. Modern readers now like to have an option of downloading a specific paper or an entire issue as a single PDF file. The online availability will also facilitate linkage with modern-day bibliographic and citation software, and utilization by researchers and clinicians.

It is hoped that with hard work, dedication and e-technology approach, the Saudi Dental Journal will continue to grow and develop, and be an important dental information source to readers/users locally, regionally and internationally.

Nazeer Khan BSc, MSc, MS, PhD
Associate Professor and Biostatistician, Division of Community Dentistry,
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry,
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.