Contribution Categories

The Libyan Journal of Dentistry takes responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the scientific record after publication. Where an error, ambiguity, or concern is identified in a published article, the journal acts in accordance with the COPE flowcharts to ensure that readers are informed and that the published record remains trustworthy.

Categories of Post-publication Action

  • Correction (Erratum) — An error that does not affect the integrity of the conclusions but is significant enough to warrant a public notice.
  • Author Correction — Where the error originated with the authors rather than with the production process.
  • Expression of Concern — A credible concern has been raised about an article, but the investigation is not yet complete.
  • Retraction — The findings of an article are seriously unreliable, whether through honest error or research misconduct, and the article should no longer be relied upon.

Corrections

Corrections are issued when an error in a published article requires public notice but the article's conclusions remain valid. Common triggers include numerical, typographical, or labelling errors; mistakes in figures, tables, or legends; errors in author names, affiliations, or the corresponding-author designation; missing or inaccurate funding, ethics-approval, or conflict-of-interest declarations; and broken links or DOIs.

How to Request a Correction

Authors who become aware of an error in their published article must notify the editorial office at [email protected] as soon as possible. The corresponding author submits a written request that clearly describes: (a) the article; (b) the exact location of the error; (c) the proposed correction; and (d) the reason the correction is needed. All co-authors must agree to the correction in writing.

Form of the Correction

Approved corrections are published as a separate, citable notice with its own DOI, linked to the original article in both directions. The original article is updated to flag the correction.

Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is issued where a credible concern has been raised about an article — for example, a possible breach of research ethics, an unresolved authorship dispute, or doubts about the reliability of the findings — and the investigation is expected to take time. Once the investigation is complete, the Expression of Concern is replaced by an appropriate correction, retraction, or formal closure.

Retractions

Retraction is the most serious post-publication action and is reserved for cases where the findings of an article are sufficiently unreliable that the article should no longer be relied upon. LJD retracts articles in accordance with the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Grounds for Retraction

  • Clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, either through major honest error or as a result of research misconduct (for example, data fabrication or falsification);
  • The findings have previously been published elsewhere without proper cross-referencing, permission, or justification (redundant publication);
  • The article constitutes plagiarism;
  • The article reports unethical research;
  • The peer-review process has been compromised.

How a Retraction is Handled

  • Concern raised — A concern is raised in writing to the editorial office.
  • Initial assessment — The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the handling editor and at least one other senior member of the Editorial Board, assesses the credibility of the concern using the COPE flowcharts.
  • Investigation — Where the concern is credible, the journal asks the corresponding author to respond and, where appropriate, contacts the authors' institution to request an independent investigation.
  • Interim notice — If the investigation is expected to take longer than three months, an Expression of Concern is issued to alert readers.
  • Decision — On the basis of the investigation, the Editor-in-Chief decides whether retraction is warranted.
  • Publication of the retraction notice — A formal Retraction notice is published with its own DOI, clearly identifying the article being retracted and stating the reasons.

Form of a Retraction Notice

Retraction notices follow the COPE template: published electronically with their own DOI; freely available to all readers; clearly identifying the retracted article; stating clearly who is retracting the article; stating the reasons for retraction; and linked from the original article in both directions. The retracted article is maintained on the platform but watermarked "RETRACTED," and a note linking to the retraction notice is displayed prominently.

Consequences for Authors

Where retraction is the result of confirmed research misconduct, LJD may take one or more of the following additional actions:

  • Notify the authors' institutions;
  • Notify other journals to which the authors have submitted or in which they have published;
  • Impose a temporary or permanent ban on submissions from the authors;
  • Refer the matter to relevant professional bodies or regulatory authorities.

Preservation of the Published Record

LJD does not delete published articles, except where retention would breach the law. In all other cases — including retracted articles — the original content remains accessible online so that the published record is preserved.

Request to Amend or Change a Published Manuscript

Authors who wish to request an amendment to a published article (a correction, an addition, or a change in authorship) should submit a written request to [email protected]. The request must include: the article identification (title, authors, DOI); the precise nature of the change; the reason for the change; and the written agreement of every co-author. The Editor-in-Chief reviews the request, takes any necessary advice from the Editorial Board, and either approves the amendment (which is then published as a Correction notice) or declines the request with reasons.