This paper presents the state of the art of self-etch adhesive systems. Four topics are shown in this review and included: the historic of this category of bonding agents, bonding mechanism, characteristics/properties and the formation of acid-base resistant zone at enamel/dentin-adhesive interfaces. Also, advantages regarding etch-and-rinse systems and classifications of self-etch adhesive systems according to the number of steps and acidity are addressed. Finally, issues like the potential durability and clinical importance are discussed. Self-etch adhesive systems are promising materials because they are easy to use, bond chemically to tooth structure and maintain the dentin hydroxyapatite, which is important for the durability of the bonding.261310Brudevold, F., Buonocore, M., Wileman, W., A report on a resin composition capable of bonding to human dentin surfaces (1956) J Dent Res, 35, pp. 846-851Kramer, J., McLan, J.W., Alterations in the staining reactions of dentine resulting from a constituent of a new self-polymerizing resin (1952) Brit Dent J, 93, pp. 150-153Chigira, H., Yukitani, W., Hasegawa, T., Manabe, A., Itoh, K., Hayakawa, T., Debari, K., Hisamitsu, H., Self-etching dentin primers containing Phenyl-P (1994) J Dent Res, 73, pp. 1088-1095Watanabe, I., Nakabayashi, N., Pashley, D.H., Bonding to ground dentin by a phenyl-P self-etching primer (1994) J Dent Res, 73, pp. 1212-1220Van Landuyt, K.L., Snauwaert, J., De Munck, J., Peumans, M., Yoshida, Y., Poitevin, A., Systematic review of the chemical composition of contemporary dental adhesives (2007) Biomaterials, 28, pp. 3757-3785Tay, F.R., King, N.M., Chan, K., Pashley, D.H., How can nanoleakage occur in self-etching adhesive systems that demineralize and infiltrate simultaneously? (2002) J Adhes Dent, 4, pp. 255-269Van Meerbeek, B., De Munck, J., Yoshida, Y., Inoue, S., Vargas, M., Vijay, P., Adhesion to enamel and dentin: Currents status and future challenges (2003) Oper Dent, 28, pp. 215-235Reis, A.F., Giannini, M., Pereira, P.N., Long-Term, T., Analysis of the nanoleakage patterns in resin-dentin interfaces produced by different bonding strategies (2007) Dent Mate, 23, pp. 1164-1172Van Meerbeek, B., Yoshihara, K., Yoshida, Y., Mine, A., De Munck, J., Van Landuyt, K.L., State of the art of self-etch adhesives (2011) Dent Mater, 27, pp. 17-28Tay, F.R., Pashley, D.H., Aggressiveness of contemporary self-etching systems. I: Depth of penetration beyond dentin smear layers (2001) Dent Mater, 17, pp. 296-308Tay, F.R., Pashley, D.H., Suh, B.I., Carvalho, R.M., Itthagarun, A., Single-step adhesives are permeable membranes (2002) J Dent, 30, pp. 371-382Tay, F., Pashley, D.H., Have dentin adhesives become too hydrophilic? (2003) J Can Dent Assoc, 69, pp. 726-731Yiu, C.K., King, N.M., Pashley, D.H., Suh, B.I., Carvalho, R.M., Carrilho, M.R., Effect of resin hydrophilicity and water storage on resin strength (2004) Biomaterials, 25, pp. 5789-5796De Cantanhede Sa, R.B., Oliveira Carvalho, A., Puppin-Rontani, R.M., Ambrosano, G.M., Nikaido, T., Tagami, J., Effects of water storage on bond strength and dentin sealing ability promoted by adhesive systems (2012) J Adhes Dent, 14, pp. 543-549Perdigao, J., Geraldeli, S., Hodges, J.S., Total-etch versus self-etch adhesive: Effect on postoperative sensitivity (2003) J am Dent Assoc, 134, pp. 1621-1629De Munck, J., Van Landuyt, K., Peumans, M., Poitevin, A., Lambrechts, P., Braem, M., A critical review of the durability of adhesion to tooth tissue: Methods and results (2005) J Dent Res, 84, pp. 118-132Wang, Y., Spencer, P., Physiochemical interactions at the interfaces between self-etch adhesive systems and dentine (2004) J Dent, 32, pp. 118-132Hanabusa, M., Mine, A., Kuboki, T., Momoi, Y., Van Ende, A., Van Meerbeek, B., . Bonding effectiveness of a new ‘multi-mode’ adhesive to enamel and dentine (2012) J Dent, 40, pp. 475-484Perdigao, J., Loguercio, A.D., (2014) Universal Or Multi-Mode Adhesives: Why and How? J Adhes Dent, 16, pp. 193-194Van Meerbeek, B., Peumans, M., Poitevin, A., Mine, A., Van Ende, A., Neves, A., Relationship between bond-strength tests and clinical outcomes (2010) Dent Mater, 26, pp. e100-e121Moszner, N., Salz, U., Zimmermann, J., Chemical aspects of selfetching enamel-dentin adhesives: A systematic review (2005) Dent Mater, 21, pp. 895-910Perdigao, J., Lopes, M.M., Gomes, G., In vitro bonding performance of self-etch adhesives (2008) Ii--Ultramorphological Evaluation. Oper Dent, 33, pp. 534-549Van Landuyt, K.L., Kanumilli, P., De Munck, J., Peumans, M., Lambrechts, P., Van Meerbeek, B., Bond strength of a mild self-etch adhesive with and without prior acid-etching (2006) J Dent, 34, pp. 77-85Nazari, A., Shimada, Y., Sadr, A., Tagami, J., Pre-etching vs. Grinding in promotion of adhesion to intact enamel using self-etch adhesives (2012) Dent Mater J, 31, pp. 394-400Yoshida, Y., Nagakane, K., Fukuda, R., Nakayama, Y., Okazaki, M., Shintani, H., Comparative study on adhesive performance of functional monomers (2004) J Dent Res, 83, pp. 454-458Koshiro, K., Sidhu, S.K., Inoue, S., Ikeda, T., Sano, H., New concept of resindentin interfacial adhesion: The nanointeraction zone (2006) J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater, 77, pp. 401-408Lima, G.S., Ogliari, F.A., Da Silva, E.O., Ely, C., Demarco, F.F., Carreno, N.L., . Influence of water concentration in an experimental self-etching primer on the bond strength to dentin (2008) J Adhes Dent, 10, pp. 167-172Reis, A., Grandi, V., Carlotto, L., Bortoli, G., Patzlaff, R., Rodrigues, A., Effect of smear layer thickness and acidity of self-etching solutions on early and long-term bond strength to dentin (2005) J Dent, 33, pp. 549-559Hiraishi, N., Nishiyama, N., Ikemura, K., Yau, J.Y., King, N.M., Tagami, J., Water concentration in self-etching primers affects their aggressiveness and bonding efficacy to dentin (2005) J Dent Res, 84, pp. 653-658Sano, H., Shono, T., Sonoda, H., Takatsu, T., Ciucchi, B., Relationship between surface area for adhesion and tensile bond strength-evaluation of a micro-tensile bond test (1994) Dent Mater, 10, pp. 236-240Shimada, Y., Senawongse, P., Harnirattisai, C., Burrow, M.F., Nakaoki, Y., Tagami, J., Bond strength of two adhesive systems to primary and permanent enamel (2002) Oper Dent, 27, pp. 403-409Tagami, J., Nikaido, T., Nakajima, M., Shimada, Y., Relationship between bond strength tests and other in vitro phenomena (2010) Dent Mater, 26, pp. e94-e99Wei, S., Shimada, Y., Sadr, A., Tagami, J., Effect of double-application of three single-step self-etch adhesives on dentin bonding and mechanical properties of resin-dentin area (2009) Oper Dent, 34, pp. 716-724Van Meerbeek, B., Willems, G., Celis, J.P., Roos, J.R., Braem, M., Lambrechts, P., Assessment by nano-indentation of the hardness and elasticity of the resin-dentin bonding area (1993) J Dent Res, 72, pp. 1434-1442Sadr, A., Shimada, Y., Lu, H., Tagami, J., The viscoelastic behavior of dental adhesives: A nanoindentation study (2009) Dent Mater, 25, pp. 13-19Zhang, Y., Wu, N., Bai, X., Xu, C., Liu, Y., Wang, Y., Hydroxyapatite induces spontaneous polymerization of model self-etch dental adhesives (2013) Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 33, pp. 3670-3676Sadr, A., Shimada, Y., Tagami, J., Effects of solvent drying time on microshear bond strength and mechanical properties of two self-etching adhesive systems (2007) Dent Mater, 23, pp. 1114-1119Nakabayashi, N., Watanabe, A., Gendusa, N.J., Dentin adhesion of ‘‘modified’’ 4-META/MMA-TBB resin: Function of HEMA (1992) Dent Mater, 8, pp. 259-264Nakabayashi, N., Hiranuma, K., Effect of etchant variation on wet and dry dentin bonding primed with 4-META/acetone (2000) Dent Mater, 16, pp. 274-279Chang, J.C., Hurst, T.L., Hart, D.A., Estey, A.W., 4-META use in dentistry: A literature review (2002) J Prosthet Dent, 87, pp. 216-224Yoshida, Y., Nagakane, K., Fukuda, R., Nakayama, Y., Okazaki, M., Shintani, H., Comparative study on adhesive performance of functional monomers (2004) J Dent Res, 83, pp. 454-458Ikemura, K., Endo, T., Effects of a new 4-acryloxyethyltrimellitic acid in a visible light-cured dental adhesive on adhesion and polymerization reactivity (1997) J Appl Polym Sci, 69, pp. 1057-1069Imazato, S., Kinomoto, Y., Tarumi, H., Ebisu, S., Tay, F.R., Antibacterial activity and bonding characteristics of an adhesive resin containing antibacterial monomer MDPB (2003) Dent Mater, 19, pp. 313-319Pinto, C.F., Paes Leme, A.F., Ambrosano, G.M., Giannini, M., Effect of a fluoride-and bromide-containing adhesive system on enamel around composite restorations under high cariogenic challenge in situ (2009) J Adhes Dent, 11, pp. 293-297Brambilla, E., Ionescu, A., Fadini, L., Mazzoni, A., Imazato, S., Pashley, D., . Influence of MDPB-containing primer on Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation in simulated Class I restorations (2013) J Adhes Dent, 15, pp. 431-438Izutani, N., Imazato, S., Nakajo, K., Takahashi, N., Takahashi, Y., Ebisu, S., . Effects of the antibacterial monomer 12-methacryloyloxydodecylpyridinium bromide (MDPB) on bacterial viability and metabolism (2011) Eur J Oral Sci, 119, pp. 175-181Nishiyama, N., Asakura, T., Suzuki, K., Komatsu, K., Nemoto, K., Bond strength of resin to acid-etched dentin studied by 13C NMR: Interaction between N-methacryloyl-omega-amino acid primer and dentinal collagen (2000) J Dent Res, 79, pp. 806-811Yoshida, H., Nishiyama, N., Development of self-etching primer comprised of methacrylamide, N-methacryloyl glycine (2003) Biomaterials, 24, pp. 5203-5207Nishiyama, N., Suzuki, K., Yoshida, H., Teshima, H., Nemoto, K., Hydrolytic stability of methacrylamide in acidic aqueous solution (2004) Biomaterials, 25, pp. 965-969Shinohara, M.S., De Oliveira, M.T., Di Hipolito, V., Giannini, M., De Goes, M.F., SEM analysis of the acid-etched enamel patterns promoted by acidic monomers and phosphoric acids (2006) J Appl Oral Sci, 14, pp. 427-435Luhrs, A.K., Guhr, S., Schilke, R., Borchers, L., Geurtsen, W., Gunay, H., Shear bond strength of self-etch adhesives to enamel with additional phosphoric acid etching (2008) Oper Dent, 33, pp. 155-162Erickson, R.L., Barkmeier, W.W., Kimmes, N.S., Bond strength of self-etch adhesives to pre-etched enamel (2009) Dent Mater, 25, pp. 1187-1194Devarasa, G.M., Subba Reddy, V.V., Chaitra, N.L., Swarna, Y.M., (2012) Self-Etching Adhesive on Intact Enamel, with and without Pre-Etching Microsc Res Tech, 75, pp. 650-654Peumans, M., De Munck, J., Van Landuyt, K.L., Poitevin, A., Lambrechts, P., Van Meerbeek, B., Eight-year clinical evaluation of a 2-step self-etch adhesive with and without selective enamel etching (2010) Dent Mater, 26, pp. 1176-1184Can Say, E., Yurdaguven, H., Ozel, E., Soyman, M., A randomized five-year clinical study of a two-step self-etch adhesive with or without selective enamel etching (2014) Dent Mater J, 11. , Epub ahead of printPeumans, M., De Munck, J., Mine, A., Van Meerbeek, B., Clinical effectiveness of contemporary adhesives for the restoration of non-carious cervical lesions. A systematic review (2014) Dent Mater, 30, pp. 1089-1103Bakry, A.S., Sadr, A., Inoue, G., Otsuki, M., Tagami, J., Effect of Er:YAG laser treatment on the microstructure of the dentin/adhesive interface after acid-base challenge (2007) J Adhes Dent, 9, pp. 513-520Tsuchiya, S., Nikaido, T., Sonoda, H., Foxton, R.M., Tagami, J., Ultrastructure of the dentin-adhesive interface after acid-base challenge (2004) J Adhes Dent, 6, pp. 183-190Inoue, G., Tsuchiya, S., Nikaido, T., Foxton, R.M., Tagami, J., Morphological and mechanical characterization of the acid-base resistant zone at the adhesive-dentin interface of intact and caries-affected dentin (2006) Oper Dent, 31, pp. 466-472Waidyasekera, K., Nikaido, T., Weerasinghe, D.S., Ichinose, S., Tagami, J., Reinforcement of dentin in self-etch adhesive technology: A new concept (2009) J Dent, 37, pp. 604-609Nikaido, T., Weerasinghe, D.D., Waidyasekera, K., Inoue, G., Foxton, R.M., Tagami, J., Assessment of the nanostructure of acid-base resistant zone by the application of all-in-one adhesive systems: Super dentin formation (2009) Biomed Mater Engineer, 19, pp. 163-171Takagaki, T., Nikaido, T., Tsuchiya, S., Ikeda, M., Foxton, R.M., Tagami, J., Effect of hybridization on bond strength and adhesive interface after acid-base challenge using 4-META/MMA-TBB resin (2009) Dent Mater J, 28, pp. 185-193Iida, Y., Nikaido, T., Kitayama, S., Takagaki, T., Inoue, G., Ikeda, M., . Evaluation of dentin bonding performance and acid-base resistance of the interface of two step self-etching adhesive systems (2009) Dent Mater J, 28, pp. 493-500Shinohara, M.S., Yamauti, M., Inoue, G., Nikaido, T., Tagami, J., Giannini, M., . Evaluation of antibacterial and fluoride-releasing adhesive system on dentin-microtensile bond strength and acid-base challenge (2006) Dent Mater J, 25, pp. 545-552Nurrohman, H., Nikaido, T., Takagaki, T., Sadr, A., Ichinose, S., Tagami, T., Hydroxyapatite crystal protection against acid-attack beneath resin-dentin interface with four adhesives (2012) TEM and Crystallography Evidence. Dent Mater, 28, pp. e89-e98Yoshida, Y., Van Meerbeek, B., Nakayama, Y., Yoshioka, M., Snauwaert, J., Abe, Y., Adhesion to and decalcification of hydroxyapatite by carboxylic acids (2001) J Dent Res, 80, pp. 1565-1569Fukegawa, D., Hayakawa, S., Yoshida, Y., Suzuki, K., Osaka, A., Van Meerbeek, B., Chemical interaction of phosphoric acid ester with hydroxyapatite (2006) J Dent Res, 85, pp. 941-944Fu, B., Sun, X., Qian, W., Shen, Y., Chen, R., Hannig, M., Evidence of chemical bonding to hydroxyapatite by phosphoric acid esters (2001) Biomaterials, 26, pp. 5104-5110Yoshihara, K., Yoshida, Y., Nagaoka, N., Fukegawa, D., Hayakawa, S., Mine, A., (2010) Nano-Controlled Molecular Interaction at Adhesive Interfaces for Hard Tissue Reconstruction Acta Biomater, 6, pp. 3573-3582Li, N., Nikaido, T., Takagaki, T., Sadr, A., Makishi, P., Chen, J., The role of functional monomers in bonding to enamel: Acid-base resistant zone and bonding performance (2010) J Dent, 38, pp. 722-730Ichikawa, C., Nikaido, T., Inoue, G., Sadr, A., Tagami, J., Ultra-morphologies of the dentin acid-base resistant zone of two-step self-etching systems after long-term storage in water (2012) J Adhes Dent, 14, pp. 207-213Kirihara, M., Inoue, G., Nikaido, T., Ikeda, M., Sadr, A., Tagami, J., Effect of fluoride concentration in adhesives on morphology of acid-base resistant zones (2013) Dent Mater J, 32, pp. 578-584Nakabayashi, N., Nakamura, M., Yasuda, M., Hybrid layer as a dentinbonding mechanism (1991) J Esthet Rest Dent, 3, pp. 133-138