Dental Cements

• Non-irritant to the pulp and gums
• Should not dissolve in oral fluids
• Should have sealing property to prevent any microleakage
• Should be able to bind with enamel and dentin

Dental Cements can be classified based on its uses as follows:

• Type 1: Luting agents, including permanent and temporary cements
• Type 2: Restorative applications
• Type 3: Liner or base applications

What are the types of Luting Cements?

Zinc Phosphate Cements are the oldest luting agent widely used and proven since its introduction in the year 1878. It is available in the powder and liquid form and sets by an acid-base reaction. The liquid should essentially contain water to control the ionization of acid and can influence the setting rate of the cement. Decrease in water can stretch the setting time and vice versa. Since the phosphoric acid could leaches out and intensifies the solubility of the cement, water contamination must be avoided. Therefore, mixing of the two components is crucial since it can affect the consistency of the final cement. Zinc Phosphate Cements are recommended to use for cementation of prefabricated and cast posts, crowns, FPD’s, metal inlays and onlays. Some of the advantages of this cement are:

• Good compressive strength
• Adequate film thickness
• Reasonable working time
• Can be used in regions of high masticatory stress or long span prosthesis

With the inclusion of copper, silver and fluoride, Zinc Phosphate Cements are modified and used for various purpose. Due to high acidity, high solubility and low strength, copper cements proved ill fit for dental applications. Silver cements contained small amount of silver phosphate and stannous fluoride in fluoride cements to provide special properties to zinc phosphate. Nevertheless, these cements showed low strength and high solubility.

Zinc Polycarboxylate Cement was developed in 1968 by replacing phosphoric acid with polymeric acid. This has a set of two liquid and one powder components, out of which one liquid is used for luting and other for lining purpose. This was the first chemically adhesive cement. The chelation reaction between carboxyl groups of the cement and calcium in the tooth structure makes the enamel bonding strong and hence more mineralized the tooth structure, stronger the bond. Compared to Zinc phosphate, Polycarboxylate cement shows greater plastic deformation property and therefore it is effective in sensitive teeth preparations close to the pulp or in cementing areas of low stress.

Advantages of Zinc Polycarboxylate Cement:

• Biocompatible due to:
  • Rapid increase in pH after the mixing
  • No tubular penetration from large and poorly dissociated polyacrylic acid molecules
  • Weaker polyacrylic acid
  • Tensile strength
  • Resistance to water dissolution
  • Chemical bonding

Veneer Cements have been formulated as an answer to the increased demand for esthetics in dentistry. These cements are mostly light cured materials, available in various shades. They can be used to created chairside esthetic restorations of teeth.

Temporary Cements such as zinc oxide eugenol cement were developed from zinc oxychloride by substituting the liquid with Eugenol. Various compounds like Silica, Alumina, Di-calcium phosphate, Polymethylmethacrylate and ortho-ethoxy benzoic acid (EBA) etcetera are used to improve the strength and reduce the solubility of ZOE. Comparative strength improvement showed on addition of polymethymethacrylate to powder and EBA to liquid. However, their use is confined to cases where tooth sensitivity is a problem and as temporary luting agents for provisional acrylic crowns and fixed partial dentures.

When resin based luting agents are used for permanent cementation, it is best to avoid eugenol containing cements. The free radical in the cement interferes with the proper polymerization of resin composite, affecting its microhardness and color stability

Glass Ionomer Cements, are the most widely used dental cements worldwide, owing to their various clinical applications. Depending upon the difference in particle size and powder composition of Glass Ionomers, they can be used for various purposes. Type II Glass Ionomer Cements are used for restorative purposes. Particle size of about 50μm are used restorative indications while finer glass particles of size 15μm are used for cementing indirect restorations. GIC cements possess properties of both silicate and polyacrylic acid i.e., the fluoride release, translucency and chemical adhesiveness on the tooth structure.

To bring about a longer setting time and to lengthen the shelf life, water-settable GICs were introduced by mixing freeze-dried polyacrylic acid and the glass powder. This mixture can be used with either water or water containing tartaric acid.

Resin Cements are the most esthetic luting agents available in dentistry. Unlike most other dental cements, resin cement sets through polymerization initiated by light or a chemical. There are two kinds of resin cements based on their ability to bind on the tooth structure: Self-adhesive resin and Esthetic resin cements. Resin Cements are typically made of diacrylate resins which contains 50-80% glass filler particles of micro meter sizes, usually be light and self-cured. It sets within a reasonable time and makes it strong enough to be used as a Base in restorative procedures or as a luting agent, i.e., cementing crowns and bridges. For effective luting this should be reliable and have good retentivity power. Self-adhesive resin cements do not need any etchant or primer for bonding on a tooth structure while a bonding agent is a necessity for esthetic resin cements. Chemical adhesiveness in resin cements improves its retention power and makes it a more recommended product among dental cements.

Resin Cements are less viscous than restorative composites, release small amounts of fluoride and are radiopaque in nature. Resin Cements are used in the cementation of ceramic composite inlays and onlays along with ceramic crowns and porcelain veneers. It is valued in direct bonding of orthodontic brackets as well as in cementation of all metal casting.

• In orthodontic bracket placement
• In cementation

Buy Dental Cements online at Pinkblue.in

Years back, selecting a dental cement was easier with limited options in the market. Zinc phosphate was one was one such which has been used mostly as a luting cement. Today, with an extensive range of innovative products chaotically dispersed across the industry, PinkBlue.in comes in to make an organized and easily accessible product hub. PinkBlue helps you make the best decision which would satisfy your requirements. Go online and leaf through our product catalogue.

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