Dataset for the Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis on Esthetic Masking Efficacy of Minimally Invasive Treatments for Dental Fluorosis

This dataset contains all analytic materials, extraction sheets, and supplementary documentation used to conduct the systematic review and network meta-analysis assessing the esthetic masking efficacy of minimally invasive treatments for dental fluorosis. The files include raw and processed data for pairwise and network comparisons, CINeMA outputs for evaluating confidence in the evidence, risk-of-bias assessments (RoB 2), and reproducible supplementary materials describing the full search strategy.

The dataset supports the manuscript by providing transparent access to the quantitative framework used to model treatment effects (ΔE and CIE Lab* changes), including multi-arm trial harmonization, variance propagation, and the statistical triangulation performed between R and MetaInsight.

Contents of the Dataset

The dataset includes the following files:

df(1).xlsx – Full arm-level dataset containing sample size, treatment coding, mean and SD values for ΔE change, and timepoints (post-treatment, 1, 3, and 6 months).

Overall.xlsx – Aggregated summary of all included comparisons, harmonized treatment labels, and consolidated outcome metrics.

rob2.xlsx – Risk-of-bias assessment for each included study using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool.

Supplementary File 1.docx – Complete search strategy for PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, including filters and query structures.

df(3)-cinema_random_MD_leaguetable.csv – League table for all treatments under the CINeMA random-effects model.

df(3)-cinema_random_MD_leaguetableLowMediumBias.csv – League table restricted to studies judged as low or moderate risk of bias.

df(3)-cinema_random_MD_perComparisonContribution.csv – CINeMA contribution matrix showing the percentage contribution of each direct comparison.

df(3)-cinema_random_MD_perStudyContribution.csv – CINeMA contribution matrix summarizing the study-level contribution to network estimates.

Purpose of the Dataset

The dataset ensures full methodological transparency and reproducibility of:

Study selection and PICO-based eligibility assessment

Data extraction, transformation, and verification

Variance derivation for repeated-measures outcomes

Network geometry construction

Random-effects network meta-analysis

CINeMA confidence assessment

Risk-of-bias evaluation

Supplementary search documentation

File Formats

The dataset includes Excel (.xlsx), CSV (.csv), and Word (.docx) files to facilitate re-analysis across platforms (R, Python, Stata, MetaInsight, and Excel).

Usage Notes

All files are ready for direct import into R (packages netmeta, meta, and CINeMA), MetaInsight, and other statistical environments. No patient-identifiable data are included.