The science and practice of dental adhesive systems.

A review of the dental scientific literature reveals a consistent pattern of restoration failure, usually occurring at the interface between the restoration and the remaining tooth structure. The most common mode of failure presents as secondary caries, which appears to develop regardless of the type of restorative material used. However, esthetic restorative materials seem especially prone to failure at this interface, because they rely on the efficacy of an adhesive bonding agent for longevity. During the past 50 years, the dental profession has witnessed a continuous evolution of adhesive bonding agents, resulting in enhanced durability of adhesives, and simpler adhesive application techniques.