Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Quasistatic Mechanical Testing for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Occlusal Veneers Cemented to Milled Dentin Analog Material
Published on: December 20, 2024
A 12-year clinical evaluation of a three-step dentin adhesive in noncarious cervical lesions
Aldridge D Wilder1, Edward J Swift, Harald O Heymann
1Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, 439 Brauer Hall, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7450, USA. aldridge_wilder@dentistry.unc.edu
Background:
The authors conducted a study to evaluate the clinical performance of a dual-cured, three-step dentin adhesive (OptiBond Dual Cure, Kerr, a subsidiary of Sybron Dental Specialties, Orange, Calif.; no longer on the market) at 12 years.
Methods:
The authors restored 100 noncarious cervical lesions without use of macromechanical retention or enamel bevels. In one-half of the lesions (group A), the authors etched only the enamel; in the other half (group B), they etched both enamel and dentin. After etching, they applied a light-cured primer and dual-cured adhesive to enamel and dentin in both groups. They restored the preparations with a resin-based composite. They performed direct evaluations by using modified U.S. Public Health Service criteria at insertion (baseline) and at one year and 12 years after insertion.
Results:
The 12-year retention rates were 93 percent in group A and 84 percent in group B, for an overall retention rate of 89 percent. Except for marginal discoloration in both groups and retention in group B, the restorations in both groups had Alfa ratings of 88 percent or greater in all of the direct clinical evaluation categories.
Conclusions:
The 12-year clinical performance, including retention rate, of a dual-cured dental adhesive was excellent and was not affected by dentin acid-etching.
Clinical Implications:
This clinical study provides additional evidence for the long-term durability of a three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive in non-carious cervical lesions.