Journal of Functional Biomaterials· 2026Q2· Review
Self-Adhesive Flowable-Resin Composites: From Chemistry to Clinical Evidence—A Critical Review
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Self-adhesive flowable-resin composites (SAFRCs) bond to teeth without separate adhesives, but their clinical efficacy is mixed, with laboratory studies showing lower dentin bond strength than controls and variable enamel bonding. While some S-PRG formulations show promise, 10-MDP products don't consistently outperform, and ion release doesn't guarantee remineralization. Clinical evidence supports cautious use in small Class I restorations up to 24 months, but equivalence to conventional methods is not established.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- SAFRCs incorporate acidic functional monomers for self-adhesion to tooth structure.
- Laboratory studies indicate lower dentin bond strength than adhesive-based controls and variable enamel bonding.
- S-PRG containing formulations show some favorable in vitro properties, but 10-MDP products lack consistent superiority.
- Clinical evidence is mixed, supporting cautious use in small Class I restorations up to 24 months, with limited long-term data.
- Equivalence to conventional bonding protocols or efficacy across the entire material class is not established.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Self-adhesive flowable-resin composites (SAFRCs) incorporate acidic functional monomers to bond to tooth structure without a separate adhesive. This critical narrative review relates the composition of eleven products identified in September 2026 to laboratory properties and clinical outcomes. A structured search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science identified 69 reports for qualitative synthesis; study design and methodological limitations informed interpretation, without formal risk-of-bias assessment. Acidic monomer-mediated adhesion provides a general framework, but interactions with tooth tissue and interfacial stability vary by formulation. Laboratory studies generally report lower dentin bond strength than adhesive-based controls and improved enamel bonding after phosphoric-acid etching. Water uptake is often high, although results obtained under non-standard conditions cannot establish non-compliance with ISO 4049. Selected S-PRG-containing formulations show favourable mechanical, bonding or ion-release properties in vitro; 10-MDP-containing products do not consistently show higher bond strength. Ion release and surface antibacterial activity do not establish clinical remineralisation or caries prevention. Clinical findings are heterogeneous and product-specific, with most follow-up limited to 24 months and one trial extending to 5 years. They support cautious consideration of the tested products for small, retentive Class I restorations, without establishing equivalence to conventional protocols or efficacy across the material class. Laboratory evidence and product instructions inform selective enamel etching; its incremental clinical benefit remains untested in direct randomised comparisons.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Functional Biomaterials, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Orthodontics
OrthodonticsDentistry