Surface treatments for tooth-colored restorations: Part 2.

Adhesive and restorative success for any indirect restoration begins and ends at the restorative-tooth interface. The bonded restorative complex includes the outer layers of the substrate, the adhesive layer, and the restorative material. Any biomaterial when properly joined to the tooth substrate is able to provide an improved marginal seal while reducing marginal contraction gaps, microleakage, nanoleakage, marginal staining, and secondary caries.1 Also resulting from the adhesion between tooth and biomaterial is restoration retention and a reduction of stress at the tooth-restorative interface. Biomechanically, this bond reinforces tooth structure and biologically preserves tissues, seals dentin tubules, and provides long-term functional success.2-4 In part 1 of this article, a discussion of adhesion at the restorative interface was provided to the clinician and technician to encourage more predictable methods for achieving an optimal bonded tooth-colored restoration. As part 1 described a standard surface treatment and adhesive