DENTAL CEMENTS

Dr. Eugenia Hines

Dental Biomaterial
COHS, UTECH

Use of dental cements

Fluoride-release
Luting agents (to cement fixed prosthesis)
Film thickness varies 25-150 m

Pulp protection (varnishes, bases and liners)

Pits and fissures sealants
Core build-up
Direct restorative material
Indirect restorative material

Zinc Phosphate Cement

Composition:
P: Zinc oxide (90%) and magnesium oxide
(10%)
L: phosphoric acid, water, aluminum
phosphate, zinc phosphate

Working time 5 min

Setting time 2.5-8 min

Properties of zinc
phosphate cements
Good compressive strength
Hardness
Low solubility in oral environment
Bonding occur by mechanical interlocking
Few hours after insertion the acid may
cause pulpal irritation

Zinc Polycarboxilate
Cement
Composition:
L: polyacrylic acid or itaconic acid
P: zinc oxide and magnesium oxide,
stannous fluoride

Chemically bonded to the tooth

Better bond to enamel

Properties of
polycarboxylate cements
Fluoride release
Working time 2.5 min
Setting time 6-9 min
Lower compressive strength
Higher tensile strength
Less soluble in water but soluble in acids
Excellent biocompatibility

Glass ionomer cement

Composition: (GIC)
P: fluoroaluminosilicate glass
Lanthanum, strontium, barium added to
provide radiopacity
L: itaconic, maleic, tricarboxylic, tartaric
acid

Properties of GIC
Fluoride-releasing
Anticariogenic
Inhibit demineralization
Increase resistance to acids
Enhance remineralization

Chemical adhesion to tooth structure

Biocompatible

Metal-reinforced GIC
Composition:
Silver alloy admix, also called cermet

Not aesthetically pleasant

Reduced amount of fluoride released
Short setting time
Used as a core build-up

Resin-modified GIC (hybrid

GIC)
Polymerized chemically and light-cured
HEMA (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) used as a monomer

Most commonly used (any direct restorative

material)
High fluoride release
High strength, high bond strength
Greater polymerization shrinkage and
microleakage

Compomers
Fluoride-releasing composite
Composition (1 paste):
Silicate glass particles, sodium fluoride,
polycidic monomer

Light cured bonding

Require etch-bond technique

Resin cements
Similar composition with other composites
Insoluble in oral environment
Dual-cure system (chemical and light)
Pulp protection is necessary
Used as a luting agent for fixed prosthesis
and orthodontic brackets

Zinc oxide-eugenol
cement
Excellent biocompatibility

Used as a
temporary cement
Long-term cement
Temporary restoration
Intermediate restoration

Calcium hydroxide
Liners
Induce reparative processes in the pulp
Pulp protection

Bases
Used under the main restorative
material to protect the pulp

Disadvantages of
cements
Solubility in oral fluids
Disintegration of cements after
period of time

THE END