ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) numbers are an important way to identify specific individuals regardless of how many different ways their name may appear in print.

In order to precisely identify contributors to Operative Dentistry, we encourage ALL authors and co-authors to register for their free ORCID number at orcid.org. Using this number in our system will auto-populate many of the author fields, saving time for the corresponding author and ensuring that the information being entered is according to the wishes of each author.

Due to the importance of having dialog about manuscript issues and concerns, corresponding authors MUST update their profile if their e-mail or postal address changes. If we do not receive replies to our communications with the corresponding author(s) within seven calendar days, a manuscript may be considered abandoned and removed from our publication/consideration queue.

An Editorial can appear however the author chooses to structure it. We have printed editorials that are pure narrative to a research paper with all the sections printed as an opinion piece (not peer-reviewed).

CLINICAL and LABORATORY RESEARCH MANUSCRIPTS and INVITED PAPERS must include as part of the narrative:

• a title
• a running (short) title
• a clinical relevance statement
• a concise summary (can be in abstract form)
• an introduction
• methods and materials
• results
• a discussion
• a conclusion
• references

REFERENCES must be numbered (superscripted numbers) consecutively as they appear in the text and, where applicable, they should appear after punctuation.
The reference list should be arranged in numeric sequence at the end of the manuscript and should include:
1. Author(s) last name(s) and initial (ALL AUTHORS must be listed) followed by the date of publication in parentheses.
2. Full article title.
3. Full journal name in italics (no abbreviations), volume and issue numbers and first and last page numbers complete (i.e. 163-168 NOT attenuated 163-68).
4. Abstracts should be avoided when possible but, if used, must include the above plus the abstract number and page number.
5. Book chapters must include chapter title, book title in italics, editors’ names (if appropriate), name of publisher and publishing address.
6. Websites may be used as references, but must include the date (day, month and year) accessed for the information.
7. Papers in the course of publication should only be entered in the references if they have been accepted for publication by a journal and then given in the standard manner with “In press” following the journal name.
8. DO NOT include unpublished data or personal communications in the reference list. Cite such references parenthetically in the text and include a date.
9. References that contain Crossref.org’s DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) should always be displayed at the end of the reference as permanent URLs. The prefix http://dx.doi.org/ can be appended to the listed DOI to create this URL. i.e. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jmbi.1995.0238

• Journal article-two authors: Evans DB & Neme AM (1999) Shear bond strength of composite resin and amalgam adhesive systems to dentin American Journal of Dentistry 12(1) 19-25.
• Journal article-multiple authors: Eick JD, Gwinnett AJ, Pashley DH & Robinson SJ (1997) Current concepts on adhesion to dentin Critical Review of Oral and Biological Medicine 8(3) 306-335.
• Journal article: special issue/supplement: Van Meerbeek B, Vargas M, Inoue S, Yoshida Y, Peumans M, Lambrechts P & Vanherle G (2001) Adhesives and cements to promote preservation dentistry Operative Dentistry (Supplement 6) 119-144.
• Abstract: Yoshida Y, Van Meerbeek B, Okazaki M, Shintani H & Suzuki K (2003) Comparative study on adhesive performance of functional monomers Journal of Dental Research 82(Special Issue B) Abstract #0051 p B-19.
• Corporate publication: ISO-Standards (1997) ISO 4287 Geometrical Product Specifications Surface texture: Profile method – Terms, definitions and surface texture parameters Geneve: International Organization for Standardization 1st edition 1-25.
• Book-single author: Mount GJ (1990) An Atlas of Glass-ionomer Cements Martin Duntz Ltd, London.
• Book-two authors: Nakabayashi N & Pashley DH (1998) Hybridization of Dental Hard Tissues Quintessence Publishing, Tokyo.
• Book-chapter: Hilton TJ (1996) Direct posterior composite restorations In: Schwarts RS, Summitt JB, Robbins JW (eds) Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry Quintessence, Chicago 207-228.
• Website-single author: Carlson L (2003) Web site evolution; Retrieved online July 23, 2003 from: http://www.d.umn.edu/~lcarlson/cms/evolution.html
• Website-corporate publication: 
National Association of Social Workers (2000) NASW Practice research survey 2000. NASW Practice Research Network, 1. 3. Retrieved online September 8, 2003 from: http://www.socialworkers.org/naswprn/default
• Journal Article with DOI: SA Feierabend, J Matt & B Klaiber (2011) A Comparison of Conventional and New Rubber Dam Systems in Dental Practice. Operative Dentistry 36(3) 243-250, http://dx.doi.org/10.2341/09-283-C

LITERATURE AND BOOK REVIEW MANUSCRIPTS must include as part of the submission:

• a title
• a running (short) title
• a clinical relevance statement based on the conclusions of the review
• an Introduction
• Materials and methods (optional – could be used to discuss the search parameters for a literature review)
• a discussion
• conclusions based on the literature review…without this, the review is just an exercise and will not be published
• references

CLINICAL TECHNIQUE/CASE STUDY MANUSCRIPTS must include as part of the narrative:

• a title
• a running (short) title
• purpose
• description of technique
• list of materials used
• potential problems
• summary of advantages and disadvantages
• references

When referencing specific teeth, the Universal Tooth Numbering System is preferred. Authors may use the International Tooth Numbering System so long as the referencing remains consistent throughout the article.

This allows editors and reviewers to view and/or download your manuscript in one easy step. If any of your figures are illegible, or the figure sizes are too large or small, your submission will be returned to you so that you can fix these problems. Your manuscript will only be considered officially submitted after it has been approved through our initial quality control check, and these problems (if any) have been fixed.

We will need your text file (original word processing file in Microsoft Word or similar software) in order to size your manuscript accurately. The page numbers must be added in order for reviewers to be able to reference any in-text observations.

The software will add line numbers to the reviewer draft of your article, but without page numbers you will not know to which page’s line numbers the Editor or reviewers refer.