Dataset for Network Meta-Analysis of Adhesive Strategies in Direct Posterior Composite Restorations in Permanent Teeth

This dataset provides the complete structured data underlying a systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluating the comparative effectiveness of adhesive strategies used in direct posterior composite restorations in permanent teeth.

The dataset was derived from randomized controlled clinical trials identified through a comprehensive systematic search and selected according to predefined eligibility criteria. It includes extracted and standardized outcome data, methodological characteristics, and treatment classifications used to construct and analyze the evidence network.

Each intervention arm was encoded using a composite treatment identifier integrating the etching strategy and adhesive system category (e.g., EAR|1U, SE|2NU), ensuring consistency across studies and follow-up periods. Commercial product names were not used in order to preserve transitivity and reduce clinical heterogeneity.

The dataset contains:

Study-level information (authors, year, design characteristics)
Participant and clinical characteristics (tooth type, cavity class, follow-up time)
Intervention details (etching strategy, adhesive system classification)
Outcome data (dichotomous outcomes based on USPHS or FDI criteria)
Aggregated event data (number of events and total sample size per arm)
Variables relevant to network meta-analysis assumptions (effect modifiers)

The primary outcomes included:

Marginal adaptation
Retention loss

Outcome data are structured to support frequentist network meta-analysis using odds ratios as the effect measure.

The dataset is formatted to be directly compatible with statistical software (e.g., R packages such as netmeta), enabling reproducibility of all analyses, including network construction, effect estimation, and ranking procedures.

This dataset adheres to FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and is intended to:

Ensure full transparency and reproducibility of the published results
Facilitate secondary analyses and methodological research in dental materials and adhesive strategies
Support evidence synthesis and future updates of the network meta-analysis