Etchant

Dental Etchants — 35–37% Phosphoric Acid & Hydrofluoric Porcelain Etching Gels

Dental etchants are controlled acid gels used to demineralise enamel, dentine or ceramic intaglio surfaces before adhesive bonding — creating the microporosity needed for resin monomer infiltration and a durable hybrid layer. Phosphoric acid etchants (35–37%) condition enamel and dentine for composite, resin cement and pit-and-fissure sealant bonding; hydrofluoric acid (HF) etchants (4–10%) condition porcelain, lithium disilicate and feldspathic ceramic intaglio surfaces before silane priming. Dentalkart stocks tinted, dropper, syringe and IndiSpense format etchants from Ultradent, Bisco, Ivoclar, Septodont, FGM, Cerkamed, Waldent, MAARC, AmmDent, Prime Dental, D-Tech, SafeEndo, Anabond, Vincismile, Soloetch and Avue.

Types of Dental Etchant

35–37% phosphoric acid (enamel and dentine etchant)

Standard phosphoric acid gel for etch-rinse and selective-etch adhesive workflows on enamel and dentine — 15 seconds on enamel, 10 seconds on dentine, rinse 15 seconds, blot dry. For example, Ultradent Ultra-Etch IndiSpense Refill, Bisco Select HV Etch 35, Bisco 32 Uni-Etch with BAC, FGM Condac 37, MAARC Etch 37%, Ivoclar N-Etch, Septodont Septo-Etch, Cerkamed Blue Etch, Prime Dental Etching Gel, D-Tech Dental Etch, AmmDent Megafrost, Waldent Bestetch (and Economy Pack), Anabond Eazetch, SafeEndo Smart Etch, Soloetch Jumbo and Avue Etch.

Hydrofluoric acid porcelain etchant (4–10% HF)

Buffered hydrofluoric acid gel for etching porcelain, lithium disilicate and feldspathic ceramic intaglio surfaces before silane primer and resin cement — used in a chair-side rubber-dam workflow with strict HF safety protocol. For example, Bisco Porcelain Etchant 9.5, Bisco Porcelain Etchant 4% HF Gel, Waldent Porcelain Etch, Vincismile HF Etchant and MAARC HF Gel Porcelain Etchant.

Delivery formats (dropper, syringe, IndiSpense)

Etchants ship in dropper bottles for jet placement (Bestetch Economy Pack, D-Tech Dental Etch), pre-filled syringes with cannulas for precise application (most premium brands), and Ultradent IndiSpense bulk format for high-volume practice with the Ultradent IndiSpense delivery system.

When Dental Etchants Are Used

• Direct composite restorations (Class I–V) using 5th-gen total-etch bonds — etch enamel and dentine before adhesive
• Selective-etch composite bonding — phosphoric on enamel only, then universal adhesive in self-etch on dentine
• Pit-and-fissure sealant placement — etch only, no separate bond needed for some sealants
• Porcelain veneer cementation — HF etchant on the ceramic intaglio surface, then silane primer + resin cement
• All-ceramic and lithium disilicate crown cementation — HF etch the intaglio
• Indirect repair of fractured porcelain restorations
• Bonded amalgam restorations (etch enamel margins for resin co-cure)
• Orthodontic bracket bonding — etch enamel before bonding primer

How to Use Dental Etchants Correctly

1. For total-etch composite bonding apply 35–37% phosphoric acid to enamel for 15 seconds, then extend onto dentine for the final 10 seconds (total 15 s enamel, 10 s dentine).
2. Rinse thoroughly for 15 seconds; blot dry — leave the dentine visibly moist for wet-bonding (do NOT over-dry, collagen collapse drops bond strength).
3. For HF porcelain etching apply 4–10% HF gel to the ceramic intaglio surface for 20 seconds (lithium disilicate) or 90–120 seconds (feldspathic), rinse thoroughly with water and clean ultrasonically before silane.
4. Always use rubber dam isolation with HF etchants — HF causes deep painful burns on contact and is absorbed through skin causing systemic hypocalcaemia.
5. If etched enamel becomes contaminated with saliva or blood, re-etch for 5 seconds to restore the etched pattern.
6. Cap etchant syringes immediately after use to prevent solvent evaporation; store per the manufacturer IFU.

Dental Etchant Brands at Dentalkart

Dentalkart's dental etchant range covers Ultradent (Ultra-Etch IndiSpense Refill and 1.2 ml Syringe Refill), Bisco (Select HV Etch 35, 32 Uni-Etch with BAC, Porcelain Etchant 9.5, Porcelain Etchant 4% HF Gel), Ivoclar Vivadent (N-Etch), Septodont (Septo-Etch), FGM (Condac 37), Cerkamed (Blue Etch 50ml), MAARC (Etch 37% Phosphoric Acid, HF Gel Porcelain Etchant), Waldent (Bestetch, Bestetch Economy Pack of 4, Porcelain Etch), AmmDent (Megafrost), Prime Dental (Etching Gel), D-Tech (Dental Etch Dropper Pack), SafeEndo (Smart Etch 25ml), Anabond (Eazetch Two Cannulas), Vincismile (HF Etchant Hydrofluoric Acid Etching Gel), Soloetch (Jumbo) and Avue (Etch) — covering 35–37% phosphoric acid enamel-and-dentine etchants and 4–10% hydrofluoric acid porcelain etchants in dropper, syringe and IndiSpense formats.

Why Buy Dental Etchants from Dentalkart

Every etchant syringe, dropper bottle and IndiSpense refill is sourced direct from the manufacturer or authorised Indian distributor, ships sealed with original batch and expiry, and reaches 110000+ pincodes across India with COD on most adhesive SKUs. Pair etchants with the full bonds and etchants range from one trusted catalogue serving 50,000+ dentists.

What is a dental etchant used for?

A dental etchant is used to demineralise enamel, dentine or ceramic intaglio surfaces before adhesive bonding — creating the microporosity needed for resin monomer infiltration. Phosphoric acid etchants (35–37%) condition tooth structure for composite, resin cement and sealant bonding; hydrofluoric acid etchants (4–10%) condition porcelain and lithium disilicate intaglio surfaces before silane priming.

What is the difference between phosphoric acid and hydrofluoric acid etchants?

The difference is the surface they condition. 35–37% phosphoric acid etches enamel and dentine — safe to handle, used for composite and sealant bonding. 4–10% hydrofluoric acid etches porcelain, lithium disilicate and feldspathic ceramic intaglio surfaces — used only for indirect restoration cementation with strict rubber-dam isolation and HF safety protocol.

How long should I etch enamel and dentine with phosphoric acid?

Etch enamel with 35–37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, then extend onto dentine for the final 10 seconds — total 15 seconds on enamel, 10 seconds on dentine. Rinse thoroughly for 15 seconds and blot dry, leaving the dentine visibly moist for wet-bonding. Over-etching dentine collapses the collagen and reduces bond strength.

Why is hydrofluoric acid etchant dangerous to handle?

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) etchant is dangerous because it causes deep painful burns on skin contact and is absorbed transdermally, binding to body calcium and causing systemic hypocalcaemia. Always use rubber dam isolation, gloves and eye protection when using HF porcelain etchants, never apply intraorally on natural tooth structure, and rinse copiously after use.

Are the dental etchants on Dentalkart genuine and CDSCO-compliant?

Yes, every dental etchant on Dentalkart is genuine and CDSCO-compliant. All Ultradent, Bisco, Ivoclar, Septodont, FGM, Cerkamed, Waldent, MAARC, AmmDent, Prime Dental and D-Tech etchants ship in sealed primary packaging with original batch number and expiry printed on every syringe and bottle.