I am writing in reference to "Advances in Biorestorative Materials: What Does the Future Hold?" by Dr. Karl Leinfelder (January JADA). The article was an interview featuring Dr. Leinfelder, highlighting his predictions for future advances in dental biomaterials.
In his interview, Dr. Leinfelder attributes the original concept of acid etching and bonding resins to enamel to Michael Buonocore. This is an egregious error that has been perpetuated in the literature. It is time to set the record straight.
The concept of bonding acrylic resins to both enamel and dentin was first started in the late 1940s and early 1950s in Europe by The Amalgamated Dental Co., London, in cooperation with their Swiss subsidiary, De Trey, Zurich.
The first bonding agent, Sevriton Cavity Seal, was made by Dr. Oskar Hagger, a Swiss chemist working for The Amalgamated Dental Co., in London. This system was based on glycerophosphoric acid dimethacrylate. A patent was applied for in Switzerland on July 21, 1949, and granted Nov. 15, 1951 (
McLean JW. Bonding to enamel and dentin [letter]. Quintessence Int 1995;26[4]: 234
).
Buonocore used this material in his earlier work and made reference in an article published in 1958 (
Buonocore MG, Quigley M. Bonding of a synthetic resin material to human dentin: preliminary histological study of the bond area. JADA 1958;57[12]:807–11
).
Dr. Hagger collaborated with John W. McLean during the early 1950s during the development of the Sevriton bonding system and used glycerophosphoric acid dimethacrylate to bond Sevriton to both enamel and dentin (
Kramer IR, McLean JW. A clinical and pathological evaluation of a sulphinic acid activated resin for use in restorative dentistry. Br Dent J 1952;93[11/18]:255–69; 93[12/2]:291–3
).
McLean and Kramer published in 1952 probably the first recorded article on dentin bonding (
Kramer IR, McLean JW. Alterations in the staining reaction of dentin resulting from a constituent of a new self-polymerising resin. Br Dent J 1952;93[9/16]:150–3
).
Buonocore’s classic article, "A Simple Method of Increasing the Adhesion of Acrylic Filling Materials to Enamel Surfaces" (
J Dent Res 1955;34[12]:849–53[Abstract/Free Full Text]
), was received for publication on July 14, 1954. Clearly, Hagger’s work predates this by several years. Buonocore’s only contribution to this process was the use of the stronger phosphoric acid for more efficient etching. The mystery remains how his relatively simple contribution in this area became so twisted and exaggerated. It is an absolute falsehood to attribute the original concept of acid etching and bonding to him, and certainly disrespectful to the work of others.
We need to be more vigilant in our attributions.
