Comparison of self-etch and total-etch dental adhesives: a systematic review using prisma 2020 methodology
Keywords:
Self-etch adhesives, total-etch adhesives, effectiveness, durability, postoperative sensitivityAbstract
Dental adhesion is an essential clinical step in restorative treatments, and among the available bonding methods, self-etch and total-etch adhesive systems stand out. The objective of this systematic review was to compare their effectiveness in terms of bond strength, durability, and postoperative sensitivity. To this end, exhaustive searches were carried out in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Redalyc, including articles published from 2015 onwards in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Meta-analyses and in vitro studies that directly evaluated both types of adhesives were selected, following the guidelines of the updated PRISMA 2020 guide for the identification and assessment of study quality. The results showed that both self-etch and total-etch adhesives are effective in dental adhesion, although relevant differences were observed: total-etch systems generally offer higher immediate bond strength, while self-etch systems reduce postoperative sensitivity. It is concluded that both systems provide adequate clinical performance, but more long-term research is needed to determine their durability with greater precision and consolidate the available evidence.
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