Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies

Malekafzali 2017 [4]

Iran

Parallel

30

G1–3:Flowable composite (Grandio flow, Voco, Germany)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive (Solobond M, Voco, Germany) + 35%PA

Class V

MD:3 mm

OG:2 mm

Depth:1.5 mm

Primary canine teeth

G1:Diamond bur

G2:Er, YAG

G3:Er, Cr:YSGG

None

Enamel margin:

0:No dye penetration

1:Dye penetration maximally extending to the dentinoenamel junction

2: Dye penetration passing the dentinoenamel junction but not reaching the axial wall

3:Dye penetration reaching the axial wall

4: Dye penetration reaching dental pulp

Dentine margin:

0: No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration less than half the diatance to the axial wall

2: Dye penetration extending more than half the distance to the axial wall but not reaching it

3: Dye penetration to axial wall

4: Dye penetration reaching dental pulp

Ergin 2018 [6]

Turkey

Parallel

54

S1:Methacrylate-based microhybrid composite (Filtek P60, 3 M ESPE)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive (Adper Single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE) + 37%PA

S2:Silorane(Filtek Silorane, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Silorane System Adhesive, 3 M ESPE)

S3:Nanohybrid methacrylate-based composite (Kalore, GC) + self-etch adhesive(G-Bond, GC)

Class II

BL:2.5 mm

Depth:1.5 mm

Premolar

G1–3:Diamond bur

G4–6: Er, Cr:YSGG+MD handpiece

G7–9: Er, Cr:YSGG+Turbo handpiece

None

Enamel margin:

0: No dye penetration

1:Dye penetration observed only on enamel

2: Dye penetration observed beyond the dentino-enamel junction

3: Dye penetration observed up to the pulpal wall

Dentine margin:

0: No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration observed up to half the cervical wall

2: Dye penetration observed more than half the cervical wall

3: Dye penetration observed up to the axial wall

Subramaniam 2016 [5]

India

Parallel

40

G1:Composite resin(Filtek 350 XT, 3 M ESPE)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Adper Single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE) + 35%PA

G2: Composite resin(Filtek 350 XT, 3 M ESPE)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Adper Single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE)

Class III

Depth:0.5-1 mm

Height:2 mm Width:2 mm

Primary upper and lower anterior teeth

G1: Diamond bur

G2: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0: No dye penetration

1:Dye penetration up to enamel

2:Dye penetration up to dentine

3: Dye penetration involving floor of cavity

Shafiei 2014 [12]

Iran

Parallel

56

G1/G3:Silorane composite(Filtek Silorane, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Silorane Adhesive, 3 M ESPE)

G2/G4:Silorane composite(Filtek Silorane, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Silorane Adhesive, 3 M ESPE) + 35%PA

Class V

Width:2 mm Height:2 mm Depth:1 mm

Primary canine teeth

G1/2: Diamond bur

G3/4: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0:No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration along the cavity wall but less than one half the length

2: Dye penetration along the cavity wall but short of the axial wall

3: Dye penetration along the axial wall

Fattah 2013 [8]

Iran

Parallel

68

G1/G3:Composite resin(Filtek Z250 shade A2, 3 M ESPE)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Adper single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE) + 35%PA

G2/G4: Composite resin(Filtek Z250 shade A2, 3 M ESPE)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Adper single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE)

Class V

Length:4 mm Width:3 mm Depth:1.5 mm

premolar

G1/2:Diamond bur

G3/4:Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0:No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration up to one third of occlusal and/or gingival walls

2: Dye penetration up to two thirds of occlusal and/or gingival walls

3: Dye penetration of occlusal and/or gingival walls up to axio-occlusal and/or axio-gingival intersection

4: Dye penetration along axial wall

Rossi 2008 [19]

Brazil

Parallel

100

G1/3/5/7/9:Ketac Molar Easy Mix(CGIC, 3 M, St Paul, Minn)

G2/4/6/8/10:Vitremer(RMGIC, 3 M)

Class V

Diameter:3 mm Depth:2 mm

Primary canine teeth

G1–2:Diamond bur

G3–10: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0:No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration up to one third of the cavity depth

2: Dye penetration up to two third of the cavity wall depth

3: Dye penetration to but not along the axial wall

4: Dye penetration up to and along axial wall

Yazici 2012 [15]

Turkey

Parallel

40

G1–4:Nanohybrid composite resin(Premise, Kerr, Orange, CA)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Adper Single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE) + 37%PA)/

Self-etch adhesive(AdheSE One, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein)

Class V

MD:3 mm

OG:2 mm

Depth:1.5 mm

Premolar

G1:Diamond bur

G2:Carbide bur

G3:Er, Cr:YSGG

G4:CVD bur

None

0: No dye penetration

1: Partial dye penetration along the occlusal/gingival wall

2: Dye penetration along the occlusal/gingival wall but not including axial wall

3: dye penetration to and along the axial wall

Marotti 2010 [18]

Brazil

Parallel

100

G1/2:Composite resin(Z250, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Single Bond, 3 M ESPE) + 37%PA

G3/5/7/9: Composite resin(Z250, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Single Bond, 3 M ESPE) + laser etching

G4/6/8/10: Composite resin(Z250, 3 M ESPE)/Self-etch adhesive(Single Bond, 3 M ESPE) + laser etching+ 37%PA

Class V

Length:3 mm Width:3 mm Depth:2 mm

Third molar

G1: Diamond bur

G2–10: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0: No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration up to enamel

2: Dye penetration up to dentine

3: Dye penetration involving the pulpal floor of the cavity

Gutknecht 2001 [16]

Germany

Parallel

24

G1:Hybrid composite resin(Kerr)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Optibond, Kerr, Karlsruhe, Germany) + 37%PA

G2:Hybrid composite resin(Kerr)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Optibond, Kerr, Karlsruhe, Germany)

G3:Hybrid composite resin(Kerr)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive Optibond, Kerr, Karlsruhe, Germany) + 37%PA

Class II

NR

Third molar

G1: Diamond bur

G2–3: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0:No dye penetration

1:Penetration into the enamel part of the cavity wall

2: Penetration into the dentin part of the cavity wall

3: Penetration including the pulpal floor of the cavity

Shahabi 2008 [7]

Iran

Parallel

30

G1:Composite resin(Vivadent, Liechtenstein)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Excite, Vivadent, Liechtenstein) + 37%PA

G2: Composite resin(Vivadent, Liechtenstein)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Excite, Vivadent, Liechtenstein)

G3: Composite resin(Vivadent, Liechtenstein)/Etch-and-rinse adhesive(Excite, Vivadent, Liechtenstein) + 37%PA

Class V

Height:2 mm

Width:4 mm

Depth:2 mm

Permanent posterior teeth

G1: Diamond bur

G2–3: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0: No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration reaching the enamel or cementum

2: Dye penetration reaching the dentine

3: Dye penetration reaching the cavity floor

Shafiei 2015 [9]

Iran

Parallel

56

G1/3:Ketac N100(3 M ESPE,USA)/Self-etch adhesive(Ketac Nano primer, 3 M ESPE)

G2/4: Ketac N100(3 M ESPE,USA)/Self-etch adhesive(Ketac Nano primer, 3 M ESPE) + 35%PA

Class V

Height:2 mm

Width:2 mm

Depth:0.5 mm

Primary canine

G1–2: Diamond bur

G3–4: Er, Cr:YSGG

None

0:No dye penetration

1: Dye penetration along the cavity wall but less than one half the length

2: Dye penetration along the cavity wall but short of the axial wall

3: Dye penetration along the axial wall

Geraldo-Martins 2013 [20]

Brazil

Parallel

70

G1–14:Flowable composite(Palfque Estelite LV)/Self-etch adhesive(Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray Medical Inc)

The removal of carious lesions determined the form of the cavity

Molars and premolars

G1:Bur

G2–14: Er, Cr:YSGG(1,1.25,1.5,1.75,2,2.25,2.5,2.75,3,3.25,3.5,3.75,4 W)

The total length of the tooth/restoration interface was measured. Then the length of the interface infiltrated by dye was calculated. These data were used to calculate the infiltration index for each section as the percentage of the interface length showing infiltration

Trelles 2012 [17]

Spain

Parallel

30

G1–3:Composite resin(Clearfil Majesty)/Self-etch adhesive(Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray Medical Inc)

Class V

Length:6 mm

Width:4 mm

Depth:2 mm

Third molar

G1:Bur

G2: Er, Cr:YSGG(4 W)

G3: Er, Cr:YSGG(1.5 W)

None

0:No dye penetration

1:Dye penetration less than one-third of the cavity wall

2: Dye penetration less than two-third of the cavity wall

3: Dye penetration more than two-third of the cavity wall without axial wall involvment

4: Dye penetration to the full extent of the cavity wall,reaching the axial wall od penetrating it