Dentin is the main hard substance of the tooth which is covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root. Dentin is the calcified product of the odontoblasts which line the inner surface of the dentin within the periphery of the external pulp tissue. Therefore, the dentin and pulp are morphologically and embryologically a single unit. Dental caries (tooth decay) is a multi-factorial disease associated with a cariogenic diet and microbiological invasion of the teeth that result in localized dissolution and destruction of the calcified tissues. It is essential to understand that cavitations in teeth (destruction of the tooth surface, creating a cavity) are signs of dominant loss of mineral from tooth as a result of bacterial acid production. In clinical practice, it is possible to lose sight of this fact and focus entirely on the restorative treatment of the lesion, thereby failing to treat the underlying cause of the disease. Those parts of dentin which are already infected by the bacteria and lost their structural integrity (known as caries-infected dentin) should be removed in the procedure of preparing the tooth for a restoration (Figure 1). Conventionally, intact and sound dental tissues were removed to establish the mechanical retention form of the cavity to avoid failure of the restoration, which were performed by materials without a strong adhesion to the tooth. Nowadays, the concept of minimal cavity preparation which requires only the infected parts to be removed has become widely accepted for the placement of direct composite restorations by using an adhesive system [1,2].

Recent dentin bonding systems have been improved and simplified, and can be classified into two main categories; self-etching systems and acid etching systems as shown in Figure 2. The category of self-etching systems is further divided into two sub-categories; two-step self-etching systems and one-step self-etching systems, or so-called “all-in-one adhesive systems”.

Monomer penetration into dentin and its polymerization in situ creates a hybrid layer, which is essential to obtain good bonding to dentin [3]. Theoretically, the hybrid layer can provide marginal sealing of the cavity and resist against acid challenge to prevent secondary caries [2]. On the other hand, recurrent caries is still considered to be one of the major reasons for replacement of resin composite restorations [4]. Tsuchiya and others foremost observed artificial secondary caries inhibition around adhesive restorations [5]. The dentin surface was demineralized by the acid challenge to create the outer lesion (OL). A new zone, the so called “acid-base resistant zone” (ABRZ) beneath the hybrid layer was found adjacent to OL (Figure 3). These regions with apatite crystallites were expected to be continuous with the normal dentin (Figure 4) [6]. This zone was created only in the self-etching systems, but not in the acid etching systems [7]. The ABRZ should be ascribed to an effective diffusion of the acidic monomer of the self-etching system beyond the hybrid layer, and their chemical bonding potential with apatite as the substrate. Based on the attributes of this zone, which was more resistant against acidic and basic attack compared to the underlying normal dentin, the reinforced dentin was proposed to be called as “Super Dentin” [8], which should be superior to the normal dentin mechanically, chemically and biologically.

Previous studies reported that the ABRZ was also observed at the adhesive-enamel interface in the two-step self-etching system, in which a functional monomer, 10-methacryloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), was included either in the primer or in the bonding agent [9]. It has been found that MDP interacts chemically with hydroxyapatite intensively and stably [10]. This monomer is capable of forming strong ionic bonds with calcium, producing MDP-calcium salts that have a low solubility. The enamel ABRZ demonstrated an increased resistance of the interface to acid challenge, suggesting the “Super Enamel” formation. Using the self-etching technology, formation of “Super Dentin/Enamel” may become a key strategy to protect and reinforce tooth structures.

As described above, recent advances in adhesive materials and technologies have resulted in the routine placement of adhesive restorations in the clinic. Direct composite restorations are the preferred treatment over indirect restorations because of the achievement of the minimal intervention concept [1,2]. Indirect restorations are still among the main options when the prepared cavity is extensive. However, conventional inlay/onlay restorations have some inherent drawbacks. When a cavity is prepared for an indirect inlay/onlay restoration, intact tooth structure has to be sacrificed to obtain the retention and resistance forms, especially because the conventional luting cements have a poor capability of bonding to tooth structure (see Figure 1b,c). Furthermore, dentin exposed after cavity preparation ought to be considered as a pulp tissue indirect exposure, since dentin is connected to pulp tissue through dentinal tubules. Therefore, the exposed dentin should be protected immediately after the preparation. Although temporary sealing of the prepared cavities has routinely been performed, the poor sealing with such a temporary material may easily fail, resulting in accidental exposure of the prepared dentin in the oral cavity, and irrigation from physical, chemical and/or bacterial stimuli [11,12].

Without doubt, the sealing property of modern dentin adhesive systems is superior to those of the temporary sealing materials [13]. A previous study also demonstrated that a recent dentin bonding system has good biocompatibility to pulp tissue [14]. In order to protect the exposed dentin surface after cavity preparation for indirect restorations, a resin coating technique was proposed in the early 1990’s [15,16]. The clinical procedures of the resin coating technique are illustrated in Figure 5. For the resin coating technique, a combination of a dentin bonding system and a flowable resin composite was applied on the preparation just after cavity preparation and before taking the impression, producing a hybrid layer and tight sealing film are produced on the dentin surface using a combination of a dentin bonding system and a flowable composite (Figure 6) [17].

This technique is beneficial in improving the dentin adhesion of a resin cement for indirect restorations and enhancing marginal integrity [18,19]. However, selection of the coating material influences immediate dentin bonding performance [20] and also dentin bonding durability [21,22]. If a good bonding is obtained using the resin coating technique, removal of intact tooth structure would be unnecessary for retention and/or resistance form. According to the Black’s principles, sacrifice of the dental tissue is required to establish mechanical retention and resistance of restoration; however, in the new concept of adhesion, only the infected caries should be removed, thus preserving the caries-affected dentin and intact dentin even when teeth have extensive caries. When the lost tooth structure is to be replaced by an indirect restoration, the exposed enamel and dentin should be immediately sealed using the resin coating technique. This rational approach to adhesion has a positive influence on tooth structure preservation, patient comfort, and the long-term survival of indirect bonded restorations. Therefore, the resin coating technique has the potential for introducing the minimal intervention concept into indirect restorations [11].

Paul et al. and Bertschinger et al. reported “dual application” [23,24]. Magne et al. proposed “immediate dentin sealing (IDS)” [25,26]. These ideas are believed to share the same concepts of the resin coating technique.

The idea of having an additional resin coating placed on the preparation raised concernes about the thickness of the coating and possible interferences with complete seating of the restoration. This dilemma was resolved by proper sequencing of the procedure and placement of the coating material before impression making. In addition, the incompletely polymerized resin coating can inhibit the polymerization reaction of impression materials, which depends on selection of the materials [27]. The contamination of the resin coating by the temporary filling material also remains an issue, as it may alter the bond between the existing resin coating and the luting agent [20,27]. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of these interactions, allowing the optimization of the coating materials and the development of surface conditioners for the application of the resin coating technique.

The combination of a dentin bonding system and a low viscosity micro-filled resin creates a thick coating layer, more than 100 µm in thickness, on the dentin surface. Such a thick coating is not suitable for a crown preparation, because of the possibility of deformation of the preparation by the resin coating [28].

Recently, a thin-film coating material has been developed by using the all-in-one adhesive technology. Such coating materials are clinically used for sealing the crown preparation and also for desensitizing the hypersensitive dentin. Application of the coating material can create a thin coating layer with less than 10 µm in thickness on the dentin surface, which is useful for the resin coating materials of the crown preparation (Figure 7). It was demonstrated that the thin-film coating material improved the dentin bonding performance of resin cement, and prevented marginal leakage beneath the restorations [12,19,29].

We are now able to select the two different application methods for the resin coating, such as a combination of a dentin bonding system and a flowable resin composite, and a thin film coating material. The combination method demonstrates more reliable dentin bonding performance than the thin film coating. However, the resin coating with the thin film coating material is easily removed even in the gingival sulcus after curing. Therefore, the two coating methods should be chosen according to the clinical cases of the indirect restorations.

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the dentate elderly population, especially in developed countries, due to increase in life expectancy, awareness of dental health measures, and availability of dental care delivery systems. However, a concomitant development is the increasing incidences of root caries, tooth wear and tooth fracture in the middle-aged and elderly. These incidences are potentially important risk factors causing tooth loss. To achieve a good quality of life, it is important to maintain natural tooth structures sound for the whole life.

The concept of pit and fissure sealing with composite resins has been widely accepted for enamel caries prevention in children and young adults [30]. Recently, approaches have been made to extend this preventive concept to smooth enamel surfaces [31,32]. The superficial penetration and surface coating of the adhesive and/or caries infiltrant is considered as a treatment option for protecting enamel dissolution [33].

Soft tissue recession due to age, traumatic toothbrush habits, periodontal disease or surgical periodontal treatment will unavoidably result in exposure of susceptible root surface and the high incidence of root caries and dentin hypersensitivity [34]. Simple single-visit methods to protect the exposed root surfaces from long-term caries attack are advantageous. However, a promising approach to prevent root caries has not become available yet.

Root surface coating with the dentin bonding systems is considered to be an effective measure for protection against caries, erosion and abrasion [35], as it provides a strong physical barrier with the formation of “Super Dentin” (Figure 8). From the clinical stand point, to control the biofilm adherence on the coating material is also important to reduce caries risk in the oral environment [36]. A series of experimental coating materials with self-cleaning surface property have been developed, which demonstrated such surface property had good potential to inhibit biofilm adherence [37] (Figure 9). If such materials with a surface property could be combined with the current adhesive technology, the surface coating will become a promising therapy in preventive dentistry in the future.