Adhesive Restorative Challenges in Sports Dentistry: A Substrate-Centered Narrative Review of Bonding to Caries-Affected, Eroded, and Sclerotic Dentin
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.75.75905Keywords
dentin bonding, caries-affected dentin, eroded dentin, sclerotic dentin, universal adhesives, sports dentistry, athletes, erosive tooth wearAbstract
Purpose. To synthesize substrate-specific evidence on bonding to caries-affected, eroded, and sclerotic dentin and integrate it with current evidence on the athlete oral environment to define implications for adhesive restorative care in sports dentistry.
Methods. A targeted narrative review used PubMed/MEDLINE, citation chaining, and full-text verification. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were prioritized; a separate contextual search addressed athletes, sports nutrition, saliva, caries, erosive tooth wear, and restorative dentistry through 6 September 2026.
Results. Caries-affected and eroded dentin generally show lower laboratory bond strength than sound dentin, while management of sclerotic surfaces remains material- and protocol-dependent. Contemporary evidence does not support a universal additional phosphoric-acid etching rule. A 2025 meta-analysis estimated caries prevalence at 44.4% and dental erosion at 36.5% among elite athletes, with high heterogeneity; no athlete-specific bonding trial was identified.
Conclusions. Altered dentin should be managed according to substrate biology and adhesive chemistry. Sports-related exposures may increase the clinical likelihood of encountering carious or eroded substrates, but current evidence does not justify sport-specific bonding protocols.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Natalia Le Hong, Weronika Jagiełło, Karolina Kukuczka, Gabriela Karpińska, Kamila Kędzior, Sonia Krzykawska, Weronika Mielnicka
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