Universal Adhesives

About universal adhesives

A universal, or multi-mode, adhesive can be used as a self-etch adhesive, as an etch-and-rinse adhesive, or with etching of the enamel only. Most contain carboxylate or phosphate monomers, MDP among them, that bond ionically to the calcium in tooth mineral.

One adhesive for any of the three etching approaches. The makers of some still call for a separate activator or a dedicated primer on porcelain and zirconia.

Sources: Sofan et al. 2017, Classification review of dental adhesive systems (Ann Stomatol)