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This article reviews the current concepts for operatively managing carious lesions extending into dentine with minimal removal of tooth structure and restoring with dentine adhesives and direct composite resin. It looks sequentially at the operative steps involved including remineralisation with bioactive cements, bonding to caries-affected dentine including smear-layer modification using HOCl, creation of an acid-base resistance zone,steps to optimise the performance of all-in-one adhesives, and incremental placement of direct composite resin to improve bond strengths to cavity floor dentine. It explores how understanding the phenomenon of colour-shifting at the composite resin-enamel/dentine restoration borders can help in creating near “invisible” restoration margins through a “chameleon” effect. With the increased risks of transmission of Covid-19 when aerosol generating procedures are carried out in Dentistry, following a minimally invasive approach to managing dental caries should be given serious consideration.

Summary Dentin bonding systems have been dramatically simplified and improved during the recent decades. Monomer penetration into dentin and its polymerization in situ creates a hybrid layer, which is essential to obtain good bonding to dentin. Moreover, the presence of an acid–base resistant zone below the hybrid layer has been documented with self-etching adhesive systems in an artificial secondary caries attack. When ultrastructure of the acid–base resistant zone is assessed by SEM and TEM observations, formation of the acid–base resistant zone is considered to be due to the monomer penetration potential and fluoride release in the adhesive systems. Natural dentin has a limited potential to resist an acid attack of secondary caries; however, the acid–base resistant zone does not purely consist of dentin in morphology, it is rather a combination of dentin and the adjacent hybrid layer. Therefore, the reinforced dentin has been called "Super Dentin" bearing the ability to prevent primary and secondary caries. Prospectively, the great potential of adhesive technology in creation of the "Super Dentin" would lead to the development of new materials for mechanical, chemical and biological protection of the dental structures.