Restorative materials in the new era should be “bio-active”, and antibacterial effects are highlighted as one of the important
properties. In order to achieve resin-based restoratives with antibacterial effects, an antibacterial monomer MDPB has been
developed. The primer incorporating MDPB demonstrated cavity-disinfecting effects, and the world’s first antibacterial
adhesive system employing the MDPB-containing primer was successfully commercialized. MDPB is potentially applicable
to various restoratives since immobilization of the antibacterial component by polymerization of MDPB enables no deterioration
in mechanical properties of cured resins and exhibition of inhibitory effects against bacterial growth on their
surfaces. For glass-ionomer cements used for atraumatic restorative treatment, the approach to provide antibacterial
activity has been attempted by addition of chlorhexidine. Incorporation of 1% chlorhexidine diacetate was found to be
optimal to give appropriate antibacterial and physical properties, being effective to reduce the bacteria in affected and
infected dentin in vivo.