Self-etching bonding agents.

Efforts to bond resins to dentin have been underway for many years. Early attempts focused on bonding resins either to the collagenous structure or to the inorganic component. While considerable progress was achieved during the first 20 years, success was finally achieved by using a different approach. Specifically, Nakabayashi conditioned dentin with an acid, resulting in a superficial demineralization of dentin. A low-viscosity monomer was then diffused into the evacuated spaces, thereby replacing the inorganic phase. This current technique, rather than bonding chemically to the dentin, is based on microretention. The resulting bond strength approaches the inherent strength of dentin itself.