EDITORIAL POLICY

1. Editorial Policy and Independence

The Journal operates according to the principles of academic independence, scientific objectivity, transparency, fairness, and integrity.

Editorial decisions are based on the scientific merit, originality, methodological soundness, clinical relevance, and contribution of a manuscript to its field. Decisions are not influenced by commercial interests, institutional pressure, political considerations, or the ability of authors to pay publication charges.

The Journal’s publisher, ASTRA SCIENCE LLC, provides publishing and production support while respecting the independence of the Journal’s editorial decision-making.

Members of the Editorial Board include academics, researchers, and experienced clinical practitioners with relevant expertise. Editors are expected to act impartially, maintain confidentiality, disclose conflicts of interest, and follow applicable publication ethics standards.

2. Peer Review Process

The Journal applies a double-blind peer-review system designed to support independent and critical assessment of submitted manuscripts.

The peer-review process normally includes:

Initial editorial screening for relevance, originality, methodological quality, completeness, and compliance with the Journal’s requirements.

Selection of independent reviewers with appropriate scientific or clinical expertise.

Double-blind assessment, in which authors’ and reviewers’ identities are concealed from one another to the extent practicable.

Editorial evaluation of the reviewers’ reports and the manuscript.

Communication of the editorial decision and, where applicable, requests for revision.

Possible editorial decisions include acceptance, acceptance subject to minor or major revisions, revision and resubmission, or rejection.

The Journal aims to complete initial screening within approximately 7–10 days, peer review within 21–28 days, and the final decision process within approximately 28–42 days. These are indicative timeframes and may vary depending on reviewer availability, manuscript complexity, and the need for additional assessment.

The Journal’s estimated acceptance rate is approximately 25–30%; this figure may vary between reporting periods.

3. Final Editorial Decision

The Editor-in-Chief has final responsibility for decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts, taking into account the reviewers’ recommendations, the scientific quality and originality of the manuscript, methodological rigor, and compliance with the Journal’s editorial and publication ethics policies.

Where the Editor-in-Chief has a conflict of interest, or is otherwise unable to handle a manuscript independently, the manuscript will be assigned to an independent editor who will oversee the review process and make the editorial recommendation or decision, as appropriate.

Editorial decisions are based on scholarly merit and are independent of commercial interests, including the payment of article processing charges.

4. Metadata Policy

Each published article includes appropriate bibliographic metadata to support accurate identification, indexing, discoverability, and long-term digital traceability.

Metadata may include the article title, author names, institutional affiliations, corresponding author information, publication date, abstract, keywords, references, and DOI information where applicable.

The Journal aims to maintain accurate metadata and correct significant errors when identified.

5. Publication Frequency

The Journal’s publication schedule is as follows:

Up to and including 2024: four issues per year (quarterly).

2025: twelve issues per year (monthly).

Beginning in 2026: six issues per year (bimonthly).

The Journal aims to maintain a consistent publication schedule while ensuring appropriate editorial review and production quality.

6. Publisher and Editorial Independence

The Bulletin of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery is published by ASTRA SCIENCE LLC, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.

The publisher provides organizational, technical, and production support for the Journal. Editorial decisions remain the responsibility of the Journal’s editorial leadership and are based on scientific merit, peer-review assessments, and the Journal’s published policies.

The publisher does not determine the acceptance or rejection of individual manuscripts on the basis of commercial considerations.

The Journal’s long-term objective is to strengthen the quality, transparency, and international visibility of its scientific content while maintaining responsible editorial practices.