What’s New in Dentine Bonding?: Universal Adhesives

Abstract

The ability to bond restorations to dentine successfully is central to minimally invasive restorative dentistry. While dentine-bonding agents have gone through a variety of ‘generations’, it is the purpose of this paper to describe the latest dentine-bonding agents, the Universal Bonding Agents. These materials may be considered ‘Universal’ insofar as they may be considered to be capable of being used for direct and indirect dentistry, as well as being suitable for use in whichever etching modality the clinician considers appropriate, namely self-etch, etch and rinse or selective enamel etch. Laboratory investigations and initial clinical studies hold the promise that Universal Bonding Agents are a forward step in the quest for the ultimate bond to tooth substance. Clinical relevance: New Universal Bonding Agents appear to present a promising advance in bonding to dentine.