Direct adhesive materials: current perceptions and evidence—future solutions

This paper reports the proceedings, including the consensus views of an Australasian expert group convened to consider current perceptions, evidence and future solutions in the field of direct adhesive materials. This group, in anticipating a trend to preservative dentistry, formed the view that caries risk assessment should increasingly influence the selection of restorative materials. In low caries risk patients, aesthetic demands typically favour the use of resin-based composites. Interactive (biomimetic) materials based on glass-ionomer chemistry have particular application in high caries risk patients. Teaching in dental schools, continuing education programmes and research, both in the laboratory and in the clinical environment should be more attuned to the ever-increasing use of tooth-coloured restorative materials in everyday clinical practice. Linked to this trend are changes in patient–dentist relationships, whereby patients should be encouraged to become more involved in treatment decision-making. Expert group meetings are suggested to be of value in addressing some of the shortfall between the need for good evidence and the relentless challenge of the introduction of new products and concepts in the field of direct adhesive materials.