Is the Ethanol Wet-bonding Technique a Promising One?

Abstract

The ethanol wet-bonding technique (EWBT) was introduced in an attempt to overcome the problems caused by high hydrophilicity and/or incomplete penetration of most commercially available adhesive systems. This strategy provides better conditions for the inter-diffusion of hydrophobic dentin monomers. Today, there are many EWBT protocols, which yield bonding interfaces with minimal degradation and longer durability compared with commercial hydrophilic adhesive systems. The aim of this review is to discuss in greater detail the EWBT, focused on the following aspects: dentin saturation, hydrophobic primer preparation, inactivation of metalloproteinases (MMPs), dentin biomimetic remineralization and the clinical perspectives of this technique. The present review on the EWBT provides support for a better understanding of the behavior of dentin when exposed to dehydration and hydrophobic monomer interaction. Moreover, additional studies are suggested to investigate the long-term stability of this type of hybrid layer.