Table 1.

Characteristics of included and excluded studies. –: no information available; F/M: female number versus male number; F/U, Follow-up; FS: fissure sealant; FV: fluoride varnish; FPMs: first permanent molars; CI: caries incidence; DMFS: decayed, missing, filled tooth surface; ICDAS: International Caries Detection and Assessment System; GIC: glass ionomer cement; RMGIC: resin modified glass ionomer cement; N/A: no application; OHE: oral health education.

STUDY ID	STUDY TYPE (STUDY DESIGN)	PATIENT				ARMS			REPLACEMENT of SEALANT	F/U PERIOD (MONTHS)	POOLED OUTCOMES
		NUMBER	AGE (YEAR)	GENDER (F/M)	ICDAS CODE	FS	FV	CONTROL
RCTs both included in our quantitative synthesis and that of previous two systematic reviews
Liu 2012	RCT, parallel	501	9.1	250/251	0–2	121 resin-based	116 22,600ppm	124 Water	N/A	24mons	CI
Bravo 1996	RCT, parallel	362	6–8′	177/185	0	75 resin-based	77 22,600ppm	94 Blank	YES	24mons	CI
Raadal 1984	RCT, split-mouth desgin	121	6–9′	62/59	0–3	210 resin-based	210 22,600ppm	N/A	N/A	23mons	CI
RCTs updated in our quantitative synthesis
Chestnutt 2017	RCT, parallel	1015	6–7′	543/472	0	514 resin-based	501 22,600ppm	N/A	YES	36mons	CI
Salem, 2014	RCT, parallel	400	6–7′	—	0	200 resin-based	200 22,600ppm	N/A	YES	24mons	CI DMFS increment
Bravo 1997	RCT, parallel	362	6–8′	177/185	0	100 resin-based	98 22,600ppm	116 Blank	YES	24mons	DMFS increment
Tagliaferro 2011	RCT, parallel	268	6–8′	129/139	0	91 RMGIC	91 22,600ppm	86 OHE	N/A	24mons	DMFS increment
Ji 2007	RCT, parallel	622	6–8′	—	0	205 GIC	207 7,700ppm	210 Blank	N/A	36mons	CI
RCTs excluded in our quantitative synthesis but included in previous two systematic reviews
Bravo 2005	RCT, parallel	362	6–8′	177/185	0	37 resin-based	38 22,600ppm	45 Blank	YES	108mons	CI
Florio 2001	RCT, parallel	34	6	—	1–3	12 RMGIC	11 22,600ppm	11 OHE	N/A	12mons	caries progression% caries arrestment%
Houpt 1983	RCT, split-mouth desgin	205	6–10′	—	0	313 resin-based	N/A	313 Blank	N/A	72mons	CI