The Journal of Clinical Advances in Dentistry (JCAD) enforces a strict plagiarism policy to uphold academic integrity and research ethics. Plagiarism undermines the credibility of research and will not be tolerated in any form.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text, images, or data without proper attribution
• Reusing previously published work (“self-plagiarism”) without disclosure
• Paraphrasing ideas without proper acknowledgment
• Submitting work derived from another researcher without credit

Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts undergo initial plagiarism checks using industry-standard detection tools. Articles with similarity scores exceeding 20% (excluding references, quotations, and methods) are subject to review by the editorial office. Submissions with excessive overlap will be returned to authors or rejected outright.

Types of Plagiarism

• Direct Plagiarism: Copying verbatim without citation.
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Replacing words but retaining structure of original text without attribution.
• Self-Plagiarism: Reusing substantial parts of one’s own published work without disclosure.
• Data Plagiarism: Presenting previously published data as new research.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is considered academic misconduct. Depending on severity, consequences may include:

• Immediate rejection of manuscript
• Notification of author’s institution
• Retraction of published articles
• Banning authors from future submissions

Handling Plagiarism Allegations

When plagiarism is suspected, the editorial team follows COPE guidelines. Authors are given an opportunity to respond to allegations. If confirmed, corrective action such as retraction, correction, or expression of concern is published.

Author Responsibilities

• Ensure originality of submitted work
• Provide proper citations for reused material
• Disclose prior publications and submissions
• Retain raw data to verify originality of findings

Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

• Report suspected plagiarism to the editorial office
• Maintain confidentiality of suspected cases
• Support COPE-based procedures for resolution

FAQs

What happens if minor plagiarism is detected?

Authors may be asked to revise and resubmit with proper citations.

Can authors reuse their own work?

Yes, with full disclosure and citation. Substantial overlap is discouraged.

Is plagiarism checked after publication?

Yes, published articles may also be re-evaluated, and plagiarism can lead to retraction.