Laurence Bohan
Content Writer
Laurence Bohan
Content Writer

Laurence is a copywriter and trained journalist. His passion is creating insightful and educational content for dental professionals of every level. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sport, quizzing and spending time with his family.

What is dental cement?

Dental cement is used to connect a fixed prosthesis, such as a crown or bridge, to the underlying tooth structure. It can also be used as a pulp-protecting agent, cavity-lining material or temporary filling. Most dental cements come as a powder which is mixed with water to form a viscous liquid. Modern cements, such as glass ionomer cement, also come in capsule form which is mixed in a special machine. Dental cements can be classified as either permanent or temporary. Permanent cement is used to permanently attach a prosthesis. Temporary dental cement is used between appointments mainly for evaluation purposes.

What are the different types of dental cements?

Zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) cement

Characteristics

  • Temporary cementation of crowns and bridges
  • Cavity base and lining material
  • Provisional restoration of teeth
  • Soothes pulp
  • Good sealing ability
  • Neutral PH
  • Least technique sensitive dental cement
Answer

Zinc phosphate cement

Characteristics

  • Cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
  • Temporary restorations
  • Cavity liner
  • Long clinical history
  • Low cost
  • Excess material is easily removed
  • Low film thickness
  • High compressive strength
  • High acidity can cause pulpal irritation
  • Exothermic (technique sensitive)
  • Weak aesthetics
  • Soluble in mouth fluids
  • No chemical adhesion

Zinc polycarboxylate cement

Characteristics

  • Cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
  • Cavity base to protect the dental pulp
  • Temporary restorations
  • Cementation of orthodontic bands and other orthodontic appliances
  • Minimal pupal irritation
  • Chemical adhesion to tooth
  • Easy to manipulate
  • Antibacterial
  • Low film thickness (similar to zinc phosphate)
  • Some can release fluoride
  • Short mixing/working times
  • Lower compressive strength than zinc phosphate cement
  • Soluble in mouth fluids

Glass ionomer cement

Characteristics

  • Permanent cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
  • Cavity liner
  • Restoration of deciduous teeth
  • Restoring erosion lesions
  • Chemical adhesion to tooth
  • Strong fluoride release over time
  • Good match to natural tooth colour
  • Easy to mix
  • Radiopaque
  • Soluble in mouth fluids
  • Technique-sensitive mixing
  • Brittle and not recommended for high stress bearing areas

Resin modified glass ionomer cement

Characteristics

  • Permanent cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
  • Cavity liner
  • Cementation of orthodontic bands and other orthodontic appliances
  • Restore carious and non-carious lesions
  • Stronger and less soluble compared to conventional glass ionomer cement
  • Fluoride release
  • Part chemical adhesion to tooth
  • Dual cure
  • Considered best cement for zirconia (ceramic but no glass) and metal crowns (porcelain fused to metal crowns and full gold)
  • Setting expansion can lead to cracking of all-ceramic crowns
  • Technique sensitive (short setting time so requires quick placement and shaping)

Resin cement

Characteristics

  • Permanent cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays
  • Indirect resin restorations
  • Veneers
  • Fibre posts
  • Orthodontic brackets
  • Strongest dental cement
  • Least soluble dental cement
  • Ability to be light cure or dual cure
  • Can be tooth coloured
  • Some can release fluoride
  • Considered best cement for lithium disilicate crowns (glass ceramic, also known as emax crowns) and veneers
  • Most technique sensitive dental cement
  • Setting shrinkage
  • Difficult to remove excess cement
  • Highest cost

What are the ideal characteristics of a dental cement?

The ideal properties of a dental cement include:

  • Non-irritating to the dental pulp
  • High tensile and compressive strength
  • Adheres to tooth structure
  • Minimal film thickness (ideally 25 microns)
  • Seals margins
  • Radiopaque for diagnostic purposes on x-rays
  • Good natural tooth like aesthetics
  • Low solubility in mouth fluids
  • Easy to use
  • Optimal working and setting time
  • Not too expensive

 

What is the best dental cement?

No dental cement is perfect. Each has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. GIC, RMGIC and resin cements are better quality, stronger and less soluble compared to the zinc-based cements and are generally used for most permanent cementation procedures in modern dentistry.