Instructions for Authors
About Us
The Journal of the Hong Kong Academy of General Dental Practice is a peer-reviewed scientific journal dedicated to advancing knowledge in general dental practice, clinical dentistry, oral health, and dental research.
The journal aims to promote:
Evidence-based dental practice
Clinical excellence
Dental education and professional development
Research in general dentistry and oral health
The journal welcomes submissions from clinicians, researchers, and academics worldwide.
Scope of the Journal
HKAGDPJ publishes research related to:
General dental practice
Preventive dentistry
Restorative dentistry
Prosthodontics
Periodontology
Endodontics
Oral medicine
Oral surgery
Dental public health
Dental education
Digital dentistry
Evidence-based dentistry
Article Types
Original Research Articles
Original research presenting novel scientific findings.
Maximum limits:
Word count: 5000 words
Abstract: ≤250 words
Figures/Tables: ≤8
References: ≤50
Structure:
Title Page
Abstract
Keywords
Introduction
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Declarations
Review Articles
Critical reviews of current literature.
Word count: 6000 words
References: ≤100
Systematic reviews must follow PRISMA guidelines.
Clinical Case Reports
Reports of unusual clinical cases or novel treatment approaches.
Word count: 3000 words
Figures: ≤6
Structure:
Introduction
Case Presentation
Discussion
Conclusion
Patient consent is mandatory.
Short Communications
Brief reports of significant findings.
Word count: 2000 words
Letters to the Editor
Word count: 1000 words
Manuscript Preparation
Manuscripts must be written in clear academic English.
Formatting requirements:
File format: Microsoft Word (.docx)
Font: Times New Roman
Font size: 12
Line spacing: Double
Margins: 2.5 cm
Page numbers included
Line numbering recommended
Manuscript Structure
Title Page
The title page must include:
Article title
Author names
Institutional affiliations
Corresponding author
Email address
ORCID ID (recommended)
Running title
Keywords (3–6)
Example:
Dr. John Smith¹, Dr. Emily Lee²
¹ Department of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong
² Private Dental Practice, Hong Kong
Corresponding Author:
Dr. John Smith
Email: johnsmith@email.com
Abstract
Maximum 250 words.
Structured abstract recommended:
Background
Methods
Results
Conclusion
References should not be included in the abstract.
Keywords
Provide 3–6 keywords.
Keywords should follow MeSH terminology when possible.
Materials and Methods
Provide sufficient detail to allow replication.
Include:
Study design
Participants
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Sample size calculation
Experimental procedures
Statistical analysis
Clinical trials must include trial registration information.
Introduction
The introduction should:
Provide scientific background
Identify knowledge gaps
Clearly state study objectives
Results
Results should be presented clearly.
Use tables and figures appropriately
Avoid repeating data in text
Report statistical significance (p-values)
Discussion
The discussion should:
Interpret results
Compare findings with previous research
Address study limitations
Discuss clinical implications
Conclusion
Provide concise conclusions supported by data.
References
HKAGDPJ uses Vancouver citation style.
References must be numbered in order of citation.
Example:
Journal article:
Chan WK, Lee SM.
Dental caries prevention strategies.
J Dent Res. 2020;99:123-130.
Books:
Peterson LJ.
Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
6th ed. Elsevier; 2014.
Figures and Tables
Figures
Accepted formats:
TIFF
JPG
PNG
EPS
PDF
Resolution: ≥300 dpi
Each figure must include a figure legend.
Tables
Tables must:
Be editable
Include descriptive titles
Explain abbreviations in footnotes
Ethical Considerations
Research involving human participants must comply with:
Declaration of Helsinki
Authors must provide:
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval
Informed consent documentation
Example statement:
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of XXX University (Approval No. XXXX). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Patient Consent
Case reports must include the statement:
Written informed consent for publication of clinical details and images was obtained from the patient.
Animal Research
Animal studies must comply with international ethical standards.
Example statement:
All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Important Information
Data Availability Statement
Authors must include a data availability statement.
Example:
The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Funding Statement
All financial support must be disclosed.
Example:
This study was supported by the Hong Kong Dental Research Fund (Grant No. XXXX).
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors must declare any conflicts of interest.
Example:
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author Contributions
Each author must describe their contribution.
Example:
Conceptualization: A.B.
Methodology: A.B., C.D.
Data collection: C.D.
Analysis: E.F.
Writing – original draft: A.B.
Writing – review and editing: All authors.
Acknowledgements
Optional section for recognizing assistance or support.
Reporting Guidelines
Authors should follow international reporting standards:
Randomized trials – CONSORT
Observational studies – STROBE
Systematic reviews – PRISMA
Case reports – CARE
Plagiarism and Publication Ethics
HKAGDPJ follows COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening.
Manuscripts containing plagiarism or unethical practices will be rejected.
Authorship Criteria
HKAGDPJ follows ICMJE authorship guidelines.
Authors must:
Contribute substantially to the research
Draft or revise the manuscript
Approve the final manuscript
Accept responsibility for the work
Peer Review Process
HKAGDPJ uses double-blind peer review.
Process:
Editorial screening
Peer review by two independent reviewers
Editorial decision
Possible decisions:
Accept
Minor revision
Major revision
Reject
Submission Checklist
Authors must ensure the following before submission:
Manuscript formatted according to guidelines
Title page included
Abstract provided
References formatted correctly
Figures and tables labeled
Ethical approval included
Conflict of interest statement provided
Cover Letter
Authors should include a cover letter containing:
Manuscript title
Brief description of the study
Confirmation that the work is original
Confirmation that the manuscript is not under consideration elsewhere
Copyright and Licensing
Upon acceptance, authors will be required to sign a copyright or open access license agreement.
Contact Information
Editorial Office
HKAGDPJ – Journal of the Hong Kong Academy of General Dental Practice
Email:
support@hkagdp.academy
Manuscript Submission Workflow
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Authors submit their manuscript through the journal submission system or by email to the editorial office.
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The editorial office checks the manuscript for completeness, formatting, and relevance to the journal’s aims and scope.
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The manuscript is sent to qualified reviewers for independent peer review to evaluate scientific quality and originality.
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Based on reviewer comments, the editor makes a decision: accept, revise, or reject.
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Authors revise the manuscript according to reviewer and editor comments and resubmit the updated version.
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Once the manuscript meets all requirements, it is accepted for publication.
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The article is published online and assigned a DOI for citation and indexing.
ISSN – International Standard Serial Number
ISSN: Pending
The International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) for the Journal of the Hong Kong Academy of General Dental Practice has been applied for and is currently under review by the ISSN International Centre.