No overall effect was revealed in the meta-analyses , meaning that no influence of the  ER or SE strategy on POS .
SIGNIFICANCE The type of adhesive strategy ( ER or SE ) for posterior resin composite restorations does not influence the risk and intensity of POS .
OBJECTIVES A systematic review and meta- analysis were performed on the risk and intensity of postoperative sensitivity ( POS ) in posterior resin composite restorations bonded with self-etch ( SE ) and etch- and -rinse ( ER ) adhesives .
Postoperative sensitivity: a comparison of two bonding agents.
Historically , postoperative pain associated with temperature was considered a thermal conduction problem . More recently , pulpal hydrodynamics has been used to explain this sensitivity . Relative to restorations placed with dentin bonding agents that require a separate etching step , agents that include an acidic primer are believed to result in a better seal of the dentinal tubules . This study compared pain associated with a st and ardized cold stimulus in two groups of restorations . One group was placed with a self-priming resin that required a separate etch step , the other with a self-etching , self-priming dentin bonding agent . This was a community-based , r and omized , double-blind clinical trial . Two hundred and nine restorations were placed for 76 participants . All teeth were asymptomatic at the start of the trial . Immediately following application of a st and ardized cold stimulus , participants rated the pain for each restored tooth using a Visual Analog Scale ( VAS ) . For each group of restorations , VAS scores at 13 weeks were compared to preoperative scores . In addition , the preoperative score was subtracted from the 13-week score , and the two groups of restorations were compared . For both groups of restorations , the median scores were significantly reduced at 13 weeks . This decrease in the VAS score reflects a reduction in sensitivity below that which existed preoperatively . There was no significant difference between the two groups of restorations in terms of change in sensitivity at 13 weeks
No overall effect was revealed in the meta-analyses , meaning that no influence of the  ER or SE strategy on POS .
SIGNIFICANCE The type of adhesive strategy ( ER or SE ) for posterior resin composite restorations does not influence the risk and intensity of POS .
OBJECTIVES A systematic review and meta- analysis were performed on the risk and intensity of postoperative sensitivity ( POS ) in posterior resin composite restorations bonded with self-etch ( SE ) and etch- and -rinse ( ER ) adhesives .