Appendix S1: Summary of studies included in the network meta-analysis.
Study, Year, Country
Group
Treatment agent
Subject
number
Treatment
effect
SD
Tarbet WJ, 1979, NY(Tarbet
et al., 1979)
I
No treatment
20 patients
-0.11
1.08
III
NaF
20 patients
-0.01
1.43
McBride MA, 1991,
UK(McBride et al., 1991)
I
Deionized water
48 patients
-0.31
0.83
III
Iontophoresis with 2% NaF
47 patients
-2.11
0.61
Dondi dall'Orologio GD,
1993, Italy(Dondi
dall'Orologio and
Malferrari, 1993)
I
No treatment
34 teeth
-2.16
0.60
III
Gluma 3 Primer
40 teeth
-2.26
0.53
III
Gluma 2000 Conditioner
42 teeth
-0.29
0.42
Dunne SM, 1993, UK(Dunne
and Hannington-Kiff, 1993)
I
Distill water
20 patients
-1.20
2.10
IV
Guanethidine
19 patients
-3.80
2.60
Gerschman JA, 1994,
Denmark(Gerschman et al.,
1994)
I
No treatment
28 patients
-0.80
1.65
V
GaAlAs laser
21 patients
-3.90
1.85
Ide M, 1998, UK(Ide et al.,
1998)
I
No treatment
16 patients
-8.10
27.91
II
Dentin bonding agent
16 patients
-25.30
27.89
Pain score
type
Study
design
Follow up
period
Treatment
courses
OHI
VRS (0-3)
Parallel
14 days
1
No
VRS (0-4)
Parallel
Immediat
e
1
N/A
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
6 months
1
N/A
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
Immediat
e
1
N/A
VAS (0.100)
Parallel
8 weeks
4
Yes
VAS (0.100)
Split mouth
1 week
1
No
Yates R, 1998, UK(Yates et
al., 1998)
Morris MF, 1999,
USA(Morris et al., 1999)
Lier BB, 2002, Norway(Lier
et al., 2002)
Schwarz F, 2002,
Germany(Schwarz et al.,
2002)
Corona SA, 2003,
Brazil(Corona et al., 2003)
Frechoso SC, 2003,
Spain(Frechoso et al., 2003)
Zhang D, 2003,
China(Zhang, 2003)
I
Water
36 patients
-3.88
1.99
III
Amorphous calcium phosphate
36 patients
-3.91
1.73
I
Distill water
16 teeth
-32.00
19.30
III
Oxalate-containing resin solution
16 teeth
-33.40
21.90
III
0.7% fluoride solution
18 teeth
-36.20
28.80
I
Placebo
17 patients
-2.99
2.33
V
Nd:YAG laser
17 patients
-2.72
2.15
I
No treatment
30 patients
0.20
0.36
II
Resin adhesives
30 patients
-0.30
0.40
V
Er:YAG laser
30 patients
-1.90
0.44
III
Fluoride varnish
12 patients
-1.17
0.80
V
GaAlAs laser
12 patients
-1.37
0.70
I
Placebo
15 patients
-1.46
0.74
IV
5%NK
15 patients
-1.40
0.98
IV
10%NK
15 patients
-1.66
1.11
II
Dentin bonding (occlusal)
10 patients
-1.67
0.74
II
Enamel bonding (occlusal)
11 patients
-1.00
0.80
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
84 days
3
N/A
VAS (0-100)
Split mouth
3 months
1
N/A
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
16 weeks
1
No
VRS (1-4)
Split mouth
6 months
1
Yes
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
30 days
5
N/A
VRS (0-3)
Parallel
14 days
1
Yes
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
3 months
1
N/A
II
Dentin bonding (cervical)
11 patients
-1.75
0.74
II
Enamel bonding (cervical)
9 patients
-1.08
0.83
II
Dentin bonding (root)
8 patients
-1.25
0.74
II
Enamel bonding (root)
12 patients
-0.58
0.83
III
75% of NaF glycerin paste (occlusal)
10 patients
-1.00
0.96
III
75% of NaF glycerin paste (cervical)
12 patients
-0.92
0.83
III
75% of NaF glycerin paste (root)
10 patients
-0.67
0.82
II
Dentin bonding agent
44 teeth
-1.71
2.61
III
HEMA+NaF
59 teeth
-1.97
2.05
VI
Dentin bonding agent + Fluoride Liner
76 teeth
-3.12
2.21
III
Glutaraldehyde-based agent
42 teeth
-1.38
4.96
III
Sodium & Calcium fluoride
56 teeth
-1.29
1.37
Gentile LC, 2004,
Brazil(Gentile and Greghi,
2004)
I
Curing light
16 patients
-4.42
2.68
V
GaAlas laser
16 patients
-3.91
2.69
Gillam DG, 2004, UK(Gillam
et al., 2004)
I
Placebo
13 patients
-0.72
0.75
III
Ferric oxalate
13 patients
-0.30
0.72
Duran I, 2004, Turkey(Duran
and Sengun, 2004)
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
3 months
1
N/A
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
6 weeks
6
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
4 weeks
1
N/A
I
Water
40 teeth
-0.24
0.14
II
Dentin bonding agent
40 teeth
-0.63
0.15
III
Glutaraldehyde-based agent
40 teeth
-0.99
0.14
I
Desensitizer-free bio-adhesive gel
16 teeth
-0.50
0.36
II
Prompt L-pop
28 teeth
-3.10
0.30
III
2% NaF bio-adhesive gel
30 teeth
-3.30
0.30
IV
5% Potassium nitrate bio-adhesive gel
32 teeth
-4.20
0.27
Zantner C, 2006,
Germany(Zantner et al.,
2006)
I
Placebo
72 patients
-27.40
26.50
III
Potassium fluoride varnish
72 patients
-26.90
24.90
Polderman RN, 2007,
Netherlands(Polderman and
Frencken, 2007)
II
Glass ionomer
14 patients
-2.78
0.91
III
Glutaraldehyde-based agent
14 patients
-1.36
1.26
Tengrungsun T, 2008,
Thailand(Tengrungsun and
Sangkla, 2008)
II
Dentin bonding agent
70 patients
-1.85
0.46
V
GaAlAs laser
70 patients
-0.71
0.76
Hamlin D, 2009,
USA(Hamlin et al., 2009)
II
Pumice paste
23 patients
-0.35
0.51
Kakaboura A, 2005,
Greece(Kakaboura et al.,
2005)
Pamir T, 2005, Turkey(Pamir
et al., 2005)
Ipci SD, 2009, Turkey(Ipci et
al., 2009)
III
8% arginine and calcium carbonate
22 patients
-1.19
0.51
III
2% NaF
10 patients
-0.75
0.59
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
9 months
1
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
8 weeks
1
No
VAS (0-100)
Split mouth
1 week
1
N/A
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
3 months
1
N/A
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
30 days
1
N/A
VRS (0-3)
Parallel
Immediat
e
1
N/A
VRS (1-4)
Parallel
6 months
1
Yes
Kara C, 2009, Turkey(Kara
and Orbak, 2009)
Ozen T, 2009, Turkey(Ozen
et al., 2009)
Schiff T, 2009, USA(Schiff et
al., 2009)
Sicilia A, 2009, Spain(Sicilia
et al., 2009)
Vieira AHM, 2009,
Brazil(Vieira et al., 2009)
VI
2% NaF + CO2 laser
10 patients
-1.94
0.47
VI
2% NaF + Er:YAG laser
10 patients
-1.87
0.64
V
CO2 laser
10 patients
-1.99
0.55
V
Er:YAG laser
10 patients
-1.98
0.50
III
Fluoride varnish
10 patients
-5.05
0.90
V
Nd:YAG laser
10 patients
-4.62
0.92
I
Water
13 patients
-1.62
8.40
III
Glutaraldehyde-based agent
13 patients
-48.10
6.14
III
Fluoride varnish
13 patients
-51.50
8.85
IV
NK gel
13 patients
-57.40
6.07
II
Pumice paste
36 patients
-2.70
0.34
III
8% arginine and calcium carbonate
32 patients
-2.73
0.34
I
Placebo
15 patients
-0.67
0.82
IV
10% NK
15 patients
-0.73
1.10
V
Diode laser
15 patients
-1.53
0.74
I
Placebo
8 patients
-3.84
2.72
III
3% potassium oxalate
8 patients
-3.88
2.78
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
4 weeks
1
Yes
VAS (0-100)
Parallel
7 days
1
Yes
VRS (0-3)
Parallel
12 weeks
1
Yes
VRS (0-3)
Parallel
60 days
1
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
3 months
4
N/A
Dilsiz A, 2010, Turkey(Dilsiz
et al., 2010b)
Dilsiz A, 2010, Turkey(Dilsiz
et al., 2010a)
Eitner S, 2010,
Germany(Eitner et al., 2010)
Erdemir U, 2010,
Turkey(Erdemir et al., 2010)
Shetty S, 2010, India(Shetty
et al., 2010)
V
GaAlAs laser
8 patients
-4.09
2.59
I
Desensitizing toothpaste
26 teeth
-3.89
1.01
V
Desensitizing toothpaste + diode laser
26 teeth
-6.00
0.68
I
No treatment
24 teeth
-0.25
1.12
V
Er:YAG laser
24 teeth
-5.37
1.51
V
Nd:YAG laser
24 teeth
-7.25
0.97
V
Diode laser
24 teeth
-4.04
0.91
I
No treatment
21 patients
-1.60
1.31
III
Gluma
20 patients
-2.86
1.90
III
Fluoride
21 patients
-2.27
1.79
II
Resin emulsion
44 patients
-2.16
2.31
VI
Oxalic acid + dentin bonding agent
43 patients
-3.37
2.77
III
Fluoride containing adhesives
44 patient
-4.34
2.65
I
Water
45 patients
-23.79
0.51
I
No treatment
45 patients
-24.12
0.68
VAS (0-10)
II
Duraphate + Hydroxyapatite-dry powder
45 patients
-23.12
0.57
+ VRS(0-3)
II
Duraphate + Hydroxyapatite-precipitate
45 patients
-24.12
0.54
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
60 days
1
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
60 days
3
N/A
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
1 month
1
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
4 weeks
1
N/A
Split mouth
8 weeks
1~5
Yes
I
No treatment
7 patients
-2.46
2.36
V
Er:YAG laser
7 patients
-3.16
2.30
V
0.25W Er,Cr:YSGG laser
7 patients
-2.26
0.85
V
0.5W Er,Cr: YSGG laser
7 patients
-1.67
1.27
I
Placebo
13 patients
-0.70
1.00
III
3% potassium oxalate
13 patients
-0.80
1.00
III
Calcium and fluoride compounds
13 patients
-0.70
1.00
Castillo JL, 2011 (Lima),
Peru(Castillo et al., 2011)
I
Water
34 patients
0.40
16.20
III
Diammine silver fluoride
37 patients
-35.80
27.70
Castillo JL, 2011 (Cusco),
Peru(Castillo et al., 2011)
I
Water
29 patients
-5.50
18.10
III
Diammine silver fluoride
26 patients
-23.40
21.00
I
No treatment
4 patients
-2.25
11.99
I
Water
4 patients
-0.00
4.02
III
Glutaraldehyde-based agent
4 patients
-55.30
8.89
V
GaAlAs laser
4 patients
-59.00
11.68
I
No treatment
42 patients
-0.79
1.84
V
Er,Cr:YSGG laser
42 patients
-5.67
1.58
Aranha ACC, 2011,
Brazil(Aranha and de Paula
Eduardo, 2011)
Assis JS, 2011, Brazil(Assis
et al., 2011)
Orhan K, 2011,
Turkey(Orhan et al., 2011)
Yilmaz HG, 2011 JCP,
Turkey(Yilmaz et al., 2011a)
VAS (0-10)
Parallel
1 month
1
Yes
VRS (0-3)
Split mouth
4 weeks
4
N/A
VAS (0-100)
Parallel
7 days
1
N/A
VAS (0-100)
Parallel
7 days
1
N/A
VAS (0-100)
Parallel
7 days
6 (laser)
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
3 months
1
Yes
Yilmaz HG, 2011 JD,
Turkey(Yilmaz et al., 2011c)
Yilmaz HG, 2011 PLS,
Turkey(Yilmaz et al., 2011b)
I
No treatment
51 patients
-0.50
1.40
V
Er,Cr:YSGG laser
51 patients
-6.20
1.28
V
GaAlAs laser
51 patients
-6.00
1.21
I
Saline (NaF control)
48 patients
-0.06
1.13
I
No treatment (Laser control)
48 patients
-0.17
1.40
III
NaF
48 patients
-3.35
1.77
V
GaAlAs laser
48 patients
-5.16
1.45
SD, standard deviation; OHI, oral hygiene instruction; VRS, verbal rating scales; VAS, visual analogue scales; N/A, not available
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
3 months
1
Yes
VAS (0-10)
Split mouth
6 months
1
Yes