Orthodontic materials research and applications: Part 1. Current status and projected future developments in bonding and adhesives

The purpose of this opinion article, to be presented in 2 parts, is to project immediate future developments expected in orthodontic materials research and applications. Analysis of the material is structured around 2 axes: presentation of evidence summarizing the current status in various fields, and formulation of a hypothesis for short-term future developments. This first part of the article deals with advances and developments in bonding to enamel. Projected adhesive developments include greater use of high-energy lamps for polymerization in light-cured systems, universal application of molar tube bonding, widespread use of self-etching primers, broader acceptance of glass ionomers in their conventional and modified modes, and elimination of 2-phase adhesives in favor of no-mix and light-cured adhesives. Long-term future adhesive applications might also include biomimetic approaches, adopting mechanisms used by living organisms to adhere to surfaces.