title: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Vital Pulp Therapy for Children with Deep Caries in the Primary Dentition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this protocol for a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of primary tooth vital pulp therapy is to describe the reasoning and need for the review, the objectives of the review, and the methodology that will be used to analyse data from the included studies. Publication of a systematic review protocol also helps establish and maintain transparency of the process and accountability for the stated methods and outcomes sought.
  
  
  METHODS
  This protocol adheres to PRISMA-P standards for protocol reporting. A variety of relevant databases and resources will be searched. Trials selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment will be performed by two independent investigators. Primary outcome measures include clinical and radiographic success. Evidence tables will be generated for included study characteristics. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool will be applied to the selected studies. For meta-analysis, results will be pooled to provide estimates of appropriate effect size and heterogeneity of trials. The quality of evidence for outcomes will be determined using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed systematic review will provide findings useful for pediatric and general dentists, researchers, guideline developers, policymakers, and public and private insurers and can be the basis for an evidence-based guideline on pulp treatment of vital primary teeth with deep caries approximating the pulp.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Md., USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas A&M University, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: N Sue
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Seale
authors.affiliation: Corridor Kids Pediatric Dentistry, North Liberty, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Kaaren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Washington, School of Dentistry, Seattle, Wash., USA.
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Md., USA.
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Marghalani
authors.affiliation: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Chicago, Ill., USA. lgraham@aapd.org.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graham
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D011672:Pulpotomy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous