{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,18]],"date-time":"2026-03-18T01:25:56Z","timestamp":1773797156493,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,29]],"date-time":"2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745884800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Universal adhesives can be applied in versatile bonding strategies, with selective dentin etching (SDE) emerging as a promising approach for enhancing dentin\u2013adhesive interfaces. This study evaluated the immediate adhesive interface to dentin of two universal adhesives (OptibondTM Universal and Futurabond M+) with an SDE strategy. Sixty human molars were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (n = 10): control (self-etch strategy), SDE, and SDE3 (SDE with three adhesive layers). After dentin exposure and smear layer simulation, adhesives were applied, followed by composite resin restoration. Microtensile bond strength in 1 mm2 beams was performed in a universal testing machine (1 kN; 0.5 mm\/min) after 24 h water storage. Failure modes were classified, and the adhesive interfaces were characterized by scanning electronic microscopy. SDE was higher for both adhesives compared to the control group, but was this change statistically significant in Futurabond M+ only (Mann\u2013Whitney, p &lt; 0.001). On the other hand, in OptibondTM Universal, only SDE3 significantly increased bond strength (Mann\u2013Whitney, p &lt; 0.001). Adhesive failures predominated across all groups. Microscopy images revealed longer and more numerous resin tags in SDE and SDE3 specimens. The SDE strategy enhanced immediate bond strength of these universal adhesives, with product-specific variations, suggesting that application strategies should be tailored to each universal adhesive\u2019s unique formulation to optimize dentin bonding effectiveness.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym17091215","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,29]],"date-time":"2025-04-29T05:17:12Z","timestamp":1745903832000},"page":"1215","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Improving Bonding Protocols: The Effect of Selective Dentin Etching with Two Different Universal Adhesives\u2014An In Vitro Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Sandro","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz University Clinic, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Tiago","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz University Clinic, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mariana","family":"Nunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Egas Moniz University Clinic, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Ana Mano","family":"Azul","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Unit (CRU), Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0167-4077","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Jo\u00e3o","family":"Mendes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Unit (CRU), Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4274-7423","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ana Filipa","family":"Chasqueira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Unit (CRU), Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1810-8776","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Research Unit (CRU), Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, 2829-511 Almada, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.12968\/denu.2011.38.7.439","article-title":"Contemporary Adhesive Bonding: Bridging the Gap between Research and Clinical Practice","volume":"38","author":"Green","year":"2011","journal-title":"Dent. 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