The first paper in this series presented a categorization of dentinal adhesive systems that was organized roughly according to chronology, chemistry, and shear bond strength values. Category I dentinal adhesives demonstrate the lowest shear bond strength values, approximately 5 to 7 MPa. Category II dentinal adhesives, including experimental ferric and aluminum oxalate rpetreatments and two commercial products, demonstrate shear bond strength values between 8 and 14 MPa. This second category of dentinal adhesives is the subject of this paper. An attempt is made to draw a parallel between the penetrative ability of the adhesive (the wettability of the dentinal substrate) and the efficacy of the adhesive bond as determined by shear bond strength values. Category III dentinal adhesives will be discussed in another paper.