Etching (microfabrication)

Composite material

Metallurgy

Materials science

Dentistry

Phosphoric acid

Smear layer

Layer (electronics)

Dentin

Abrasive

Adhesive

Medicine

Japanese Dental Science Review

Currently, dental adhesives can be divided into two systems; a smear layer-removal approach with etch-and-rinse adhesives or a smear layer-modified approach with self-etching adhesives. After phosphoric acid etching, the smear layer is completely removed. More attention is, however, required when using self-etching adhesives. The smear layer is partially demineralized by the weak acidic monomer and subsequently incorporated into the hybrid layer. Therefore, the characteristics of the smear layer play an important role on the bonding performance of self-etching adhesives. Such characteristics, for instance, smear layer thickness and smear layer density, are influenced by many factors,

Role of the smear layer in adhesive dentistry and the clinical applications to improve bonding performance