A randomized controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of a two-step self-etch adhesive with and without selective phosphoric-acid etching of enamel

The clinical effectiveness of the mild two-step self-etch adhesive Clearfil SE was excellent after 2 years of clinical service. Although in general no difference in clinical performance was recorded when Clearfil SE was applied following either of the experimental protocols, more marginal defects at the enamel side were noticed when enamel was not beforehand etched with phosphoric acid. However, these defects were small and of clinically negligible relevance.