Objectives To address contemporary concepts in adhesive dental materials with emphasis on the evidence behind their clinical use. Overview Adhesive dentistry has undergone major transformations within the last 20 years. New dental adhesives and composite resins have been launched with special focus on their user‐friendliness by reducing the number of components and/or clinical steps. The latest examples are universal adhesives and universal composite resins. While clinicians prefer multipurpose materials with shorter application times, the simplification of clinical procedures does not always result in the best clinical outcomes. This review summarizes the current evidence on adhesive restorative materials with focus on universal adhesives and universal composite resins. Conclusions (a) Although the clinical behavior of universal adhesives has exceeded expectations, dentists still need to etch enamel to achieve durable restorations; (b) there is no clinical evidence to back some of the popular adjunct techniques used with dental adhesives, including glutaraldehyde‐based desensitizers and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors; and (c) the color adaptation potential of new universal composite resins has simplified their clinical application by combining multiple shades without using different translucencies of the same shade. Clinical Significance New adhesive restorative materials are easier to use than their predecessors, while providing excellent clinical outcomes without compromising the esthetic quality of the restorations.

Resin composites are the most versatile restorative materials used in dentistry and the first choice for restoring posterior teeth. This article reviews aspects that influence the clinical performance of composite restorations and addresses clinically relevant issues regarding different direct techniques for restoring posterior teeth that could be performed in varied clinical situations. The article discusses the results of long-term clinical trials with resin composites and the materials available in the market for posterior restorations. The importance of photoactivation is presented, including aspects concerning the improvement of the efficiency of light-curing procedures. With regard to the restorative techniques, the article addresses key elements and occlusion levels for restoring Class I and Class II cavities, in addition to restorative strategies using different shades/opacities of resin composites in incremental techniques, restorations using bulk-fill composites, and shade-matching composites.

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