4-META use in dentistry: a literature review.

4-META (4-methacryloyloxyethy trimellitate anhydride) was invented and patented in Japan in January 1979 and patented in the United States in April 1979. For the first 8 years, 4-META dental products (manufactured by Sun Medical Co, Kyoto, Japan) were not readily available in North America. Most of the early research therefore was done in Japan and reported in Japanese.