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Laurence Bohan
Content Writer
Laurence Bohan
Content Writer

Laurence is a copywriter and trained journalist. His passion is creating insightful and educational content for dental professionals of every level. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sport, quizzing and spending time with his family.

What is the Difference Between Etch-and-Rinse and Self-Etch Systems and What are the Main Advantages of the Two Application Methods?

In aesthetic dentistry many different routes lead to the same goal. A universal adhesive system can considerably simplify the clinical workflow of many different direct or indirect restorative treatments.

Bonding mechanism: An adhesive bond is created by dissolving calcium and phosphate components in the tooth structure and then infiltrating the porous tooth surface with a low-viscosity composite resin (bonding agent).

To establish a long-lasting bond between the composite resin and the tooth, their surfaces must be brought into close proximity to one another. Adhesive systems (bonding agents) produce ideal conditions. The current adhesive systems are divided into the following categories:

  • 3-step etch-and-rinse
  • 2-step etch-and-rinse
  • self-etch

Each of these techniques has certain advantages.

Self-etch Systems and How they Differ

Self-etch systems are divided into several subcategories. Depending on whether a separate primer must be used, a distinction is made between two-step self-etch and one-step, two-component self-etch adhesives. The latest generation involves one-step, one-component self-etch adhesives (e.g. Adhese Universal).

One-step, one-component self-etch adhesives (e.g. Adhese Universal) are the only real all-in-one systems available: conditioning, priming and application are accomplished in one step due to a sophisticated formulation – Click. Bond. Done.

These universal adhesive systems are much easier to use because they do not require any premixing or application in multiple steps. Straightforward systems such as these save time and reduce the possibility of handling errors. In addition, they lower the risk of postoperative sensitivity, since the self-etch process is quite gentle.

The main advantage of the self-etch technique is that the tooth structure is simultaneously conditioned and infiltrated. This method simplifies and shortens the bonding procedure. It is easy to use, less technique sensitive and produces reliable bonding results.

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