Objectives: To identify if selective etching of enamel (SEE) margins improves the retention rates and marginal discoloration of cervical composite restorations in non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) of adult patients.
Source: MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, BBO Library, Cochrane Library and SIGLE were searched without restrictions, as well as IADR abstracts and gray literature via trial registries. Dissertations and theses were searched using the ProQuest Dissertations and Periódicos Capes Theses databases.
Study selection: We included randomized clinical trials that compared the clinical effectiveness of SEE using the self-etch adhesive for direct composite resin restorations in NCCLs in the permanent dentition.
Data: After removal of duplicates, 2689 articles were identified. Following screening of abstracts, 10 studies remained in the qualitative synthesis. Seven were considered to be at "low" risk of bias. The report of the studies varied from 1 to 5 years. Except for one-year follow-up, there was a significantly lower marginal discoloration and marginal adaptation during all follow-up periods. Significantly less loss of retention of restorations at the 3-year follow-up was observed with the selective enamel etching technique.
Conclusions: Selective enamel prior to application of self-etch adhesive systems in NCCLs might improve clinical performance of resin-composite cervical restorations, although further long-term research is required to confirm this.
Clinical significance: Selective enamel etching prior to application of self-etch adhesive systems in NCCLs can produce composite restorations with higher longevity.
Keywords: Cervical lesions; Randomized clinical trials; Selective enamel etching; Systematic review.
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