Aspects and Principles of Material Connections in Restorative Dentistry—A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The combination of two dissimilar materials has always been a serious problem in dentistry. In order to meet this challenge, it is necessary to combine both chemical methods (treatment with silanes, (meth)acrylic functional monomers) and the development of the surface of the joined material in a physical way, e.g., by sandblasting with alumina, alumina with silica, acid etching, the use of lasers and other means. The purpose of this literature review is to present all methods of joining dental composites with other materials such as ceramics, metal, another composite material. This review covers articles published within the period 2012–2022 in journals indexed in the PubMed database, written in English and describing joining different dental materials to each other. All the critical steps of new joint preparation have been addressed, including proper cleaning of the joint surface, the application of appropriate primers capable of forming a chemical bond between ceramics, zirconium oxide or metals and alloys, and finally, the application of new composite materials.