Ethical Principles

The Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus (JODHN) is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in publishing, ensuring the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the scientific research it disseminates. The journal adheres to internationally recognized ethical guidelines, including those established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher, are expected to uphold these ethical standards to ensure the reliability and academic rigor of published research.

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to the Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus must adhere to the following ethical guidelines:

1.1. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit only original work that has not been previously published or is under consideration elsewhere.
Plagiarism in any form, including direct copying, self-plagiarism, and improper paraphrasing, is strictly prohibited.
All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism detection using iThenticate. If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be rejected, and further actions may be taken.

1.2. Authorship and Contribution

Authorship should be based on substantial contributions to the research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation.
All listed authors must have made significant intellectual contributions and approved the final manuscript before submission.
Ghost authorship (excluding key contributors), guest authorship (adding individuals who did not contribute), and gift authorship (including individuals for honorary recognition) are unethical and not permitted.
Any changes in authorship after submission must be justified and approved by all authors and the editorial board.

1.3. Data Integrity and Fabrication

Authors must ensure the accuracy and authenticity of their data. Any form of data fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting of results is unethical.
Raw data may be requested by the editorial board for verification purposes. Failure to provide raw data may lead to manuscript rejection or retraction.

1.4. Acknowledgment of Sources and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must properly cite all sources, including prior research, funding agencies, and institutional support.
Any conflicts of interest (financial, personal, academic, or institutional) that could influence the research findings must be disclosed at the time of submission.

1.5. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Studies involving human participants must have received approval from an accredited Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee.
Research involving patients or human subjects must obtain informed consent, ensuring participants understand the purpose, risks, and benefits of the study.
Animal research must comply with ethical guidelines for animal welfare and receive approval from an animal ethics committee.

1.6. Multiple, Redundant, or Simultaneous Submissions

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
If a study is an extension of a previous work, authors must provide transparency in citing prior publications and explaining how their research advances the existing knowledge.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and quality of published research. The Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus follows a double-blind anonymous peer-review process, and reviewers must adhere to the following ethical standards:

2.1. Objectivity and Confidentiality

Reviews should be conducted objectively, without bias, discrimination, or personal criticism of the authors.
Reviewers must evaluate manuscripts based on scientific merit, methodology, originality, and relevance.
All received manuscripts are confidential and should not be shared, discussed, or distributed.

2.2. Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest that could affect their impartiality.
If a reviewer has a personal or professional relationship with the authors that could lead to biased judgment, they must decline the review invitation.

2.3. Timeliness and Ethical Conduct

Reviewers must complete their evaluations within the agreed deadline. If unable to review on time, they should inform the editor immediately.
Any suspected ethical misconduct (such as plagiarism, falsification, duplicate submission) must be reported to the editorial office.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The editorial team of the Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus ensures ethical integrity in the publishing process and must adhere to the following responsibilities:

3.1. Fairness and Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based solely on the scientific merit, originality, and relevance of the submitted manuscript.
Editors must not discriminate based on race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, or institutional affiliation.
Editors must remain independent of external influences (financial, political, or institutional).

3.2. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors must maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities.
Unpublished data or ideas from submitted manuscripts must not be used for personal research without author consent.

3.3. Handling of Misconduct and Retractions

If misconduct (plagiarism, data fabrication, ethical violations) is suspected, the editor must investigate and take appropriate action, including retraction if necessary.
The journal follows COPE guidelines for ethical disputes and complaints.

4. Research Misconduct and Retraction Policy

The Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus has a strict policy on research misconduct. If ethical breaches are identified before or after publication, the editorial board may take the following actions:

4.1. Types of Research Misconduct

Plagiarism: Direct copying, self-plagiarism, or failure to credit sources.
Data Fabrication/Falsification: Manipulation of research data, images, or findings.
Duplicate Publication: Publishing the same work in multiple journals.
Ethical Violations: Breaching informed consent, animal welfare guidelines, or research ethics approvals.

4.2. Consequences of Research Misconduct

Manuscript rejection before publication.
Retraction of published articles with a formal notice explaining the reason.
Notification to the authors' affiliated institutions, funding bodies, and indexing services.
Banning authors from future submissions.

5. Conflict of Interest Policy

All stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, and editors, must disclose any financial, professional, or personal interests that may influence the publication process.

Authors must declare:

Financial relationships (funding, sponsorships, consulting fees)
Institutional affiliations or collaborations
Intellectual property or patents related to the research

Reviewers must declare any personal or academic conflicts with the authors before accepting a review invitation.

Editors must excuse themselves from handling a manuscript if a potential bias exists.

6. Ethical Compliance and Complaints Procedure

The journal follows an ethical complaints procedure for handling allegations of research misconduct, editorial errors, or conflicts. Complaints should be directed to the editorial office via email.

If disputes cannot be resolved internally, the journal follows COPE guidelines for independent investigation and resolution.

7. Final Ethical Statement

The Journal of Oral and Dental Health Nexus is committed to:

Upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing.
Promoting transparency, integrity, and scientific credibility.
Ensuring ethical research practices in dental and oral health sciences.