The use of adhesive substances in dentistry, particularly in the restoration of decayed teeth, is growing. Adhesive materials are also used for securing brackets to the teeth in orthodontic treatment and for luting the form of artificial teeth known as jacket crowns in place. In recent years, there has been considerable growth in the use of adhesive systems to repair teeth damaged by caries. In this application, adhesive materials show two important advantages over traditional materials, such as silver amalgam, namely: (i) that marginal leakage is prevented, thereby eliminating the development of secondary caries; and (ii) that adhesive materials are more clinically conservative, since they allow the dentist to repair the tooth without removing excessive amounts of healthy tissue. Teeth repaired in this way are stronger and more likely to last that those treated with silver amalgam fillings. Adhesive dental materials include the glass–ionomer and zinc polycarboxylate cements, and also the dentine bonding agents used to bond composite resin restorations to the dentine of the tooth. This article reviews these materials and their clinical applications and discusses likely future developments in the light of the changes occurring in oral health and age distribution of the population.