Sameer Puri D.D.S. I found this slide while cleaning out some old power points and its amazing the difference in trends in different countries. In Brazil, 95% of the population uses a total etch technique when bonding their restorations. In Japan, its the opposite, where 95% of the population uses a self etch bonding agent.
Self etching in Japan was made popular by products such as Clearfil SE Bond from Kuraray. This bonding agent requires no etch, no rinsing which as we know can potentially lead to sensitivity.
The US is still a total etch country but more and more doctors are using a self etch solution. Scotchbond Universal from 3M is gaining market share rapidly. XTR from Kerr is another popular bonding agent and everyone knows Multilink from Ivoclar.
Regardless of what type of system you use, be sure to follow proper protocol and read my previous blog about etching enamel when using a self etch bonding agent.
