To Bond or Not to Bond

Ever since enamel etching was introduced in the 1950's, the science of adhesive dentistry has been constantly evolving and revolutionizing the practice of dentistry. Adhesion has facilitated the development of countless functional and esthetic treatment options that were never possible with conventional cementation. Because adhesion doesn't require the retention and resistance forms necessitated by cementation, it enables dentists to conserve more tooth structure, prolonging the lives of their patients' teeth. Indeed, advances in adhesion have been significant forces behind the profession's shift to minimally invasive treatment. Unfortunately, with great advances comes great complexity, and delivering the strongest, most long-lasting bonds requires staying up to date on the latest research regarding materials and techniques. To help our readers improve their understanding, Inside Dentistry's March 2024 special issue on adhesion presents the insights of several experts on different elements of adhesive dentistry, a CE article on reliably bonding zirconia, information about the latest adhesives and cements, and more.