From demographics and patient demands, to technique and philosophy, and even our overall understanding of oral health – dentistry is constantly evolving. And these changes
need new and innovative dental materials, including adhesives. Manufacturers continue to make improvements to dental adhesives to meet clinicians’ modern needs. Universal adhesives in particular offer important advantages in performance and ease of use. A good universal adhesive should include the following characteristics:
- High bond strength
- Compatibility with your preferred etching technique
- Suitability for direct and indirect restorations
- Ability to bond to restoration materials like glass ceramic, zirconia, metals, and composite without extra primer
Universal adhesives are compelling for these reasons alone, but there are actually five more performance benefits you may not have considered:
1. Radiopacity: Distinguish adhesive layers from gaps, voids and caries
Most universal adhesives are radiolucent. On an x-ray, it can be difficult to differentiate between adhesive pooling, secondary caries, marginal gaps, and voids beneath the restoration, particularly in hard-to-inspect areas. Radiolucency under an existing restoration can lead to misdiagnosis – and potentially invasive overtreatment. To remedy this issue, some manufacturers add inorganic radiopaque fillers to increase the adhesive’s radiopacity. However, inorganic fillers can increase the viscosity and affect the material’s application properties, making handling more challenging. Plus, fillers tend to settle over time, which can negatively impact the quality of the product if the bottle is not shaken thoroughly before use.