Chawla 2012.

Study characteristics
Patient Sampling	Method of sampling: selected Included conditions: no cavitation and early lesions Teeth: primary molars Sealants: not reported Restorations: not reported Surface: approximal
Patient characteristics and setting	Age: not reported Sex: not reported Ethnicity: not reported Country: Australia Setting: extracted teeth Number of participants/teeth/sites: 135 sites (140 originally with 5 damaged) Prevalence: enamel 0.61, dentine 0.24
Index tests	Category of test: 2 transillumination lights (FOTI) (SDI and NSK, Radii Plus and Ti‐Max P200 Phatelus Probe) Sequence of test(s): index tests (visual, radiograph, transillumination then DIAGNOdent then DIAGNOdent pen) prior to reference standard Examiner training and calibration: calibration and training completed; attempt made to blind examiners to each index test Threshold applied: sound, inner/outer enamel, inner/outer dentine Device specifics: "Teeth were examined in ambient light without room darkening. Examination was performed from the buccal, occlusal and lingual aspects"
Target condition and reference standard(s)	Category: histology Sequence of index test and reference standard: index test then reference standard Training of examiner: not reported Blinding to index test: yes Multiple tests: no Site selection: sectioned teeth Target condition: healthy, inner/outer enamel, inner/outer dentine
Flow and timing	Participants with index test but no reference standard: 5 Participants with reference standard but no index test: 0 Time interval between tests: minimal Participants receiving both tests but excluded from results: 0
Comparative
Notes	Data used from SDI device as most comparable to other devices, figure 1 used for data extraction
Methodological quality
Item	Authors' judgement	Risk of bias	Applicability concerns
DOMAIN 1: Patient Selection
Was a consecutive or random sample of patients enrolled?	No
Was a case‐control design avoided?	Yes
Did the study avoid inappropriate exclusions?	Yes
Could the selection of patients have introduced bias?		High risk
Are there concerns that the included patients and setting do not match the review question?			High
DOMAIN 2: Index Test (All tests)
Were the index test results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the reference standard?	Yes
If a threshold was used, was it pre‐specified?	Yes
If multiple tests were applied were different examiners used for each (in vivo)?	No
Could the conduct or interpretation of the index test have introduced bias?		Low risk
Are there concerns that the index test, its conduct, or interpretation differ from the review question?			Low concern
DOMAIN 3: Reference Standard
Is the reference standards likely to correctly classify the target condition?	Yes
Were the reference standard results interpreted without knowledge of the results of the index tests?	Yes
Could the reference standard, its conduct, or its interpretation have introduced bias?		Low risk
Are there concerns that the target condition as defined by the reference standard does not match the question?			Low concern
DOMAIN 4: Flow and Timing
Was there an appropriate interval between index test and reference standard?	Yes
Did all patients receive the same reference standard?	Yes
Were all patients included in the analysis?	Yes
Could the patient flow have introduced bias?		Low risk