Question

The following are all historical fallicies about dentinal bonding except one. Which is the exception? (composites irritate pulp, dentin should not be etched, smear layer is "dentinal debris", smear layer should be left to protect pulp)

Answer 1

The correct statement about dentinal bonding is that the smear layer is 'dentinal debris.' The other options are historical misconceptions about dentinal bonding practices and the effects on dental pulp.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question addresses historical inaccuracies regarding dentinal bonding. The one statement that is not a historical fallacy is that the smear layer is "dentinal debris." The smear layer indeed consists of a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, including fine particles of dentin, which are produced during tooth preparation.

This layer is sometimes deliberately left as it was historically believed to protect the pulp by acting as a barrier against microleakage and bacterial invasion. However, the other statements about composites irritating the pulp, the assertion that dentin should not be etched, and the idea that the smear layer should always be left to protect the pulp are now known to be misconceptions in modern restorative dentistry.