Functional Adhesives for a Restorative Future

Area of Science:

• Dental Biomaterials Science
• Adhesive Dentistry
• Restorative Dentistry

Background:

• Dental cementation evolved from mechanical retention to adhesion-based strategies.
• Understanding enamel and dentin properties is crucial for successful bonding.
• Dentin presents unique challenges in achieving durable adhesion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide context for contemporary clinical decision-making in indirect restoration cementation.
• To review evidence-based adhesive strategies for major restorative materials.
• To synthesize a clinical protocol for optimized cementation.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review synthesizing evidence on adhesive strategies.
• Analysis of structural and compositional characteristics of enamel and dentin.
• Evaluation of surface treatments and chemical coupling agents for various materials.

Main Results:

• Adhesive strategies vary for glass-ceramics, zirconia, hybrid ceramics, and composites.
• Effective bonding involves tailored surface preparation (etching, abrasion) and chemical coupling (silanization, MDP primers).
• Selection of appropriate resin cements (light-cured, dual-cured, self-adhesive) is critical.

Conclusions:

• Adhesive resin cements offer predictable long-term outcomes for indirect restorations.
• Despite advancements, challenges in dentin bonding persist.
• Further research is needed to address remaining clinical challenges and drive innovation.