A Comprehensive Evaluation of Zirconia-Reinforced Glass Ionomer Cement’s Effectiveness in Dental Caries: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Dental cements are in a constant state of evolution, adapting to better align with the intricacies of tooth structure and the dynamic movements within the oral cavity. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of zirconia-reinforced glass ionomer cement—an innovative variant of modified glass ionomer cements—in terms of its ability to withstand compressive forces and prevent microleakage during dental caries reconstruction. An extensive search was conducted across various databases, encompassing PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, prominent journals, unpublished studies, conference proceedings, and cross-referenced sources. The selected studies underwent meticulous scrutiny according to predetermined criteria, followed by the assessment of quality and the determination of evidence levels. In total, 16 studies were incorporated into this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). The findings suggest that both compomer and giomer cements exhibit greater compressive strength and reduced microleakage values than zirconia-reinforced glass ionomer cement. In contrast, resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and high-viscosity glass ionomer cement (GIC) demonstrate less favorable performance in these regards when compared with zirconia-reinforced glass ionomer cement.