Does Er,Cr:YSGG reduce the microleakage of restorations when used for cavity preparation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background: As the member of erbium laser family, Erbium, Chromium: Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) have obtained the approval for caries removal and cavity preparation by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, there are still disputes about the beneficial efficacy of Er,Cr:YSGG prepartions on microleakage. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the microleakage of cavities prepared by Er,Cr:YSGG lasers with that by traditional burs. We also assess the effect of acid etching on the adhesive potential of self-etch and etch-and-rinse adhesives after laser preparation. Methods: An electronic search was performed in Pubmed, EBSCO, Embase, and the Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL). Results: 357 articles were identified. Finally, 12 met the inclusion criteria, among which 11 were selected for meta-analysis. All included studies presented a moderate risk of bias. No significant difference was observed between the Er,Cr:YSGG and traditional bur groups in terms of the incident rate of microleakage. Self-etch adhesives in combination with prior acid etching shown less microleakage than those without acid etching in laser-prepared cavities. Conclusions: The current studies did not support the beneficial effects of Er,Cr:YSGG preparations on microleakage. And the additional acid etching is recommended to accompany with self-etching adhesives after Er,Cr:YSGG preparations. More high-quality researches are needed to draw a convincing conclusion in the future.