Immediate Dentine Sealing: Towards a Surface Science Perspective on an Undercharacterised Adhesive Interface.

Area of Science:

• Dental Materials Science
• Adhesive Dentistry
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Immediate Dentine Sealing (IDS) is a key strategy for indirect restorations, improving clinical outcomes.
• While mechanical benefits are known, the surface morphology and chemistry of sealed dentine post-IDS are not fully characterized.
• Understanding the dentine substrate is crucial for optimizing adhesion and long-term restoration success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on the morphological and chemical characteristics of dentine after Immediate Dentine Sealing (IDS).
• To highlight the limitations in current research regarding surface-level characterization and analytical techniques for IDS-treated dentine.
• To identify knowledge gaps concerning the reactivated dentine surface before cementation.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of scientific literature was conducted.
• The review focused on studies characterizing dentine following IDS, distinguishing between cross-sectional and surface analyses.
• Analytical techniques used in the literature were also examined.

Main Results:

• Most studies on IDS focus on bond strength and failure modes, not surface characteristics.
• Few studies utilize surface-sensitive methods like SEM or profilometry for top-down analysis.
• Quantitative, chemically resolved data on the reactivated dentine surface are scarce, with a lack of standardized protocols.

Conclusions:

• The bonding interface, specifically the reactivated dentine surface after IDS, is significantly underexplored.
• Advanced, non-destructive techniques are needed to characterize this substrate.
• Future research should guide the development of adhesive systems specifically for IDS-treated dentine.