Buonocore Memorial Lecture 2023: Changing Operative Mindsets with Universal Adhesives and Cements

Adhesive dentistry has undergone significant advancements since its inception, marked by continuous improvements in material performance and adaptability to various dental and restorative substrates. Initially, the anatomical differences between enamel and dentin made adhesive approaches challenging. Early systems were often complex and operator dependent, leading to the development of multistep protocols. However, advancements have led to the creation of more user-friendly self-etch systems and the emergence of universal adhesives (UAs). These UAs can be applied with equal effectiveness to different substrates, including enamel and dentin, simplifying the clinical workflow and enhancing reliability. The concept of universality has recently been extended to other dental materials, most notably universal resin cements. These cements offer a versatile approach as they are capable of both adhesive and self-adhesive bonding, thereby accommodating a wide range of restorative scenarios. The advent of these materials represents a significant advance toward simplifying procedures, reducing technique sensitivity and the likelihood of operator error, and achieving consistently high quality restorations. Current research focuses on further refining these universal materials to enhance their performance, making them a cornerstone of modern adhesive dentistry.