4 Spencer P et al. DURABLE BONDS AT THE ADHESIVE/DENTIN INTERFACE: AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION OR SIMPLY A MOVING TARGET? Braz Dent Sci 2012 jan./mar.; 15 (1) 4-18 ABSTRACT Composite restorations have higher failure rates, more recurrent caries and increased frequency of replacement as compared composite undermines the restoration and leads to recurrent decay and failure. The gingival margin of composite restora tions is particularly vulnerable to decay and at this margin, the adhesive and its seal to dentin provides the primary barrier between the prepared tooth and the environment. The intent of this article is to examine physico-chemical factors that affect the integrity and durability of the adhesive/dentin interfacial bond; and to explore how these factors act synergisti- cally with mechanical forces to undermine the composite restoration. The article will examine the various avenues that have been pursued to address these problems and it will explore how alterations in material chemistry could address the detrimental impact of physico-chemical stresses on the bond formed at the adhesive/dentin interface. KEYWORDS Literature review; bonding; interface dentin/restoration; integrity; durability. Durable bonds at the adhesive/dentin interface: an impossible mission or simply a moving target? Durabilidade da adesão na interface adesivo/dentina: uma missão impossível ou simplesmente um alvo em movimento? Paulette SPENCER Department of Mechanical Engineering - Bioengineering Research Center - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. Qiang YE Jonggu PARK Bioengineering Research Center - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. Anil MISRA Bioengineering Research Center - Department of Civil Engineering - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. Brenda S. BOHATY Department of Pediatric Dentistry - University of Missouri - Kansas City - School of Dentistry - Kansas City - MO. Viraj SINGH Department of Mechanical Engineering - Bioengineering Research Center - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. Ranga PARTHASARATHY Bioengineering Research Center - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. Fábio SENE Department of Restorative Dentistry - State University of Londrina - School of Dentistry - Londrina - Brazil. Sérgio Eduardo de Paiva GONÇALVES Department of Restorative Dentistry - School of Dentistry of São José dos Campos - UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista - São José dos Campos - SP - Brazil. Jennifer LAURENCE Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry - University of Kansas - Lawrence - KS. doi: 10.14295/bds.2012.v15i1.790