Table 1 Main characters of the included studies

Van Duker et al., [23] (2019)

mTBS

38% SDF^a

38% SDF^a/KI^b

Posterior teeth

D-dentine

Etch-and-rinse system (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, 3 M, St. Paul, MN, USA)

Rinse

Zhao et al., [24] (2019)

SBS

38% SDF^c

35–40% SDF/KI^d

Third molar

D-dentine

GIC (Ketac-Molar, 3 M/ESPE Dental Products, St, Paul, MN, USA)

Air-dry/Rinse

Gupta et al., [25] (2019)

SBS

35–40% SDF/KI^d

Molar

S-dentine

RMGIC (GC Gold Label 2 LC, GC Co., Japan)

Rinse

Puwanawiroj et al., [26] (2018)

mTBS

38% SDF^c

Primary molar

Natural carious dentine

GIC (Fuji IX GP Extra Capsule, GC America Inc.)

Rinse + Polish

Lutgen et al., [27] (2018)

mSBS

38% SDF^a

Posterior teeth

S-dentine

Self-etch system (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, 3 M, St. Paul, MN, USA; Clearfil SE Bond 2, Kuraray Noritake, Tokyo, Japan)

Etch-and-rinse system (Scotchbond Universal Adhesive, 3 M, St. Paul, MN, USA; Scotchbond Etchant, 3 M, St. Paul, MN, USA)

Air-dry/Rinse/Polish

Wu et al., [28] (2016)

mTBS

38% SDF^c

Primary molar

S-dentine

Etch-and-rinse system (Prime & Bond NT, DENTSPLY Caulk, Milford, Del., USA)

Rinse

Wang et al., [29] (2016)

mTBS

38% SDF^c

Molar

S-dentine

D-dentine

GIC (Fuji IX, GC Co., Tokyo, Japan)

Air-dry

Light illumination

Selvaraj et al., [30] (2016)

mSBS

35–40% SDF/KI^d

Third molar

S-dentine

Etch-and-rinse system (Adper Single Bond 2, 3 M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA);

Self-etch system (Adper Easy One, 3 M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA)

Rinse

Kucukyilmaz et al., [31] (2016)

mTBS

38% SDF^c

Molar

S-dentine

D-dentine

Self-etch system (Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray, Tokyo, Japan)

Not reported

Laser

Koizumi et al., [32] (2016)

mTBS

35–40% SDF/KI^d

Permanent molar

S-dentine

Etch-and-rinse system (Optibond FL; Kerr, USA)

2-step self-etching systems (Clearfil Liner Bond F; Kuraray Noritake Dental, Japan; and Optibond Versa; Kerr, USA)

RMGIC (Riva Bond LC; SDI Australia)

Not reported

Quock et al., [33] (2012)

mTBS

38% SDF^c

12% SDF^e

Molar

S-dentine

Self-etch system (Peak SE, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA)

Etch-and-rinse system (Peak LC, Ultradent, South Jordan, UT, USA)

Rinse

Knight et al., [34] (2006)

SBS

1.8 M AgF solution saturated KI solution

Third molar

S-dentine

GIC (Fuji VII, GC Co., Japan)

Rinse/Air-dry

Soeno et al., [35] (2001)

TBS

38% SDF^c

Bovine anterior teeth

Bovine dentine

2 luting systems (Super-Bond C & B, Sun Medical Co. Ltd., Moriyama, Japan; and Panavia Fluoro Cement, Kuraray Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan)

Air-dry + Rinse