How to Choose the Right Permanent Cement for Your Fixed Restorations
Dental cement help to keep the restoration in position for an extended time and help prevent microleakage between the cement material and the tooth. The resistance to solubility, the minimum film thickness, and the amount of friction between the tooth and restoration must be met for it to be considered an adhesive. Adhesives must exert friction on some level, but understanding what makes a dental cement better than others requires understanding its characteristics and how it adheres to the tooth’s surface.
Adhesive cement can adhere and contour to the irregularities of the tooth’s surface, while conventional cement focus on mechanical retention, giving the basic minimum requirements for restoration adhesion. Because the dental cement must act as a barrier to prevent bacteria and fluid build-up, most dental cement will have either an acid-base or a chemical-based reaction, allowing the adhesive to be used as a base for restorations, sealants, and prostheses. To help you choose the most suitable type of dental cement, know that no matter the brand, dental adhesives can be classified according to these specifications:
Zinc Phosphate Cement
As the most used dental cement, it’s an acid-based solution with high strength and low solubility, composed of powder and other liquid that requires regulation of the temperatures of the mixing tiles and immediate application once mixed completely. As time passes, the viscosity of the cement will increase, and thus, it has a high acidity level.
Advantages:
- Easy to manipulate
- Economic in price
- Easily remove excess material
Disadvantages:
- Not aesthetically pleasing
- Susceptible to microfiltration
Zinc Polycarboxylate Cement
Also called polycarboxylate, it has a stronger force strength for traction and compression. Because its liquid component is polyacrylic acid, it has a low pulp sensitivity due to the large molecules formed during its acid-base reaction. Its mixture’s highly flexible, and its chemical makeup reacts to the calcium ions on the surface of the enamel and dentine to adhere greater to the tooth.
Advantages:
- Shorter work time
- Chemically adheres to the dental structure
- Greater solubility
Disadvantages:
- Does not bond with noble metals
- PH of the mixture increases rapidly
- More difficult to remove excess
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Glass Ionomer Cement
Originally used for anterior teeth, glass ionomer cement is considered a conventional cement containing various materials ranging from fluorides and itaconic acid to tartaric acid and alumina. As an acid-base reaction, water, unlike polycarboxylate cement, is required in the setting process. It releases fluorine, which produces greater resistance to bacteria and compression and is translucent in color.
Advantages:
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Chemical stability
- Viscous consistency
Disadvantages:
- High acidic pH
- requires absolute isolation
Resin Cement
Unlike the four types of cement mentioned above, resin cement works as a chemical-based solution, using monomeric acids and filling composed of glass, quartz, silica, and fluoride to neutralize its acidity and, as a result, form a resin that can be used for fillings and restorations. The resin can be mixed manually or automatically and can be made with various shades for translucency.
Advantages:
- Does not cause pupal damage
- High aesthetics
- Good lubricating effects
Disadvantages:
- Decreases resistance when absorbing water
- Susceptible to microfiltration
- Can form air bubbles
Table 1: Comparison of Prices and Ratings for Dental Cements on Amazon*
| Cement Name | Dentaltix Price (€) | Net32 Price ($) | Dentatix Ratings | Net32 Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KERR Temp Bond Without Eugenol Zinc Oxide Cement | 19.99 | 29.00 | 5 stars out of 15 reviews | 5 stars out of 25 reviews |
| Dentsply POLY-F Plus Zinc Polycarboxlate Cement | 62.90 | 77.14 | 5 stars out of 1 review | N/A |
| Vitrebond Plus Glass Ionomer Cement | 170.48 | 187.50 | 4 stars out of 2 reviews | 5 stars out of 14 reviews |
| 3M Relyx UNICEM 2 – Automix Resin Cement | 87.09 | 101.50 | 5 stars out of 19 reviews | 5 stars out of 36 reviews |
| 3M Ketac-Cem Glass Ionomer Luting Cement Intro Kit | 59.87 | 94.93 | 5 stars out of 13 reviews | 4 stars out of 28 reviews |
Table 2: Comparison of Features for Dental Cements
| Cement Name | Manufacturer | Suitable for use on | Retentive Properties | Polymerization Inhibition | Eugenol-free | Dispensing format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KERR Temp Bond Without Eugenol Zinc Oxide Cement | Kerr | Crown and bridge | High | No | Yes | Base, Throttle and Mixing Block |
| Dentsply POLY-F Plus Zinc Polycarboxlate Cement | Dentsply | Crowns, bridges, etc. | N/A | N/A | N/A | Powder, water dispenser, measuring tool, mixing block |
| Vitrebond Plus Glass Ionomer Cement | Vitrebond | Anterior and posterior restorations | N/A | Reduces polymerization shrinkage | N/A | Click-to-dispense format |
| 3M Relyx UNICEM 2 – Automix Resin Cement | 3M | Inlays, crowns, bridges, onlays | N/A | No | N/A | Dispensing syringe and multiple tips |
| 3M Ketac-Cem Glass Ionomer Luting Cement Intro Kit | 3M | Post and screw cementation, cavity lining, orthodontic band installment | Optimal fitting | No | N/A | Granulated formula |
Note: N/A stands for Not Applicable, as the information is unavailable for the specific feature.
1. KERR Temp Bond Without Eugenol Zinc Oxide Cement
Dentatix Ratings: Five stars out of 15 reviews
Net32 Ratings: Five stars out of 25 reviews
Manufactured by Kerr, the Temp bond zinc oxide cement works for crown and bridge applications, providing high retentive properties. The product’s known not to inhibit polymerization and can work for both living teeth and pulp-free teeth. Temp Bond cement also can be opted for patients with allergic reactions to eugenol, making it an excellent cement at any dentist’s disposal. The kit includes one base tube, throttle tube, and mixing block.
Dentaltix Price: € 19.99
Net32 Price: $29.00
2. Dentsply POLY-F Plus Zinc Polycarboxylate Cement
Dentatix Ratings: Five stars out of 1 review
Net32 Ratings: N/A
The Dentsply Poly-Plus cement is suitable for dentine pre-treatment and pulp protection and can be applied for crowns, bridges, cavity coatings, root canal treatments, and temporary fillings. Its cementation has a consistency rating of between five and seven minutes. The product contains 50 g of powder, a water dispenser bottle, a mixing block, and a measuring tool for preparation.
Dentaltix Price: € 62.90
Net32 Price: $77.14
3. Vitrebond Plus Glass Ionomer Cement
Dentatix Ratings: Four stars out of 2 reviews
Net32 Ratings: Five stars out of 14 reviews
The Vitrebond Plus kit offers a click-to-dispense format that removes the measuring process, making it easy for dentists to dispense the cement without hassle or worry. The glass ionomer base aims to reduce hypersensitivity for the patient, reduce polymerization shrinkage, and can work for direct anterior and posterior restorations of all classes. The product includes two clicker dispensers, a large mixing block, and a user guide for instruction.
Dentaltix Price: € 170.48
Net32 Price: $187.50
4. 3M Relyx UNICEM 2 – Automix Resin Cement
Dentatix Ratings: Five stars out of 19 reviews
Net32 Ratings: Five stars out of 36 reviews
3M’s Unicem Cement has been a top-tier choice for dentists, and the automix syringe gives dentists an easy-to-use format for quick procedures and flexible dosing. The formula doesn’t require any pre-treatments, offers great adhesion to any surface, and it has resistance to color fading and a low risk of bubble formation. The kit can work for inlays, crowns, bridges, and Onlays and comes with a dispensing syringe and multiple tips.
Dentaltix Price: $87.09
Net32 Price: $101.50
5. 3M Ketac-Cem Glass Ionomer Luting Cement Intro Kit
Dentatix Ratings: Five stars out of 13 reviews
Net32 Ratings: Four stars out of 28 reviews
Like the Vitrebond Plus, the Ketac-Cem intro kit includes a granulated formula designed to speed up the mixing process and reduce waste. Its cement is a thin film, making it biocompatible for endodontic surgery. It releases fluoride to help protect the tooth’s enamel and has a high radiopacity for easy detection of luting materials during procedures. The Ketac-Cem cement has an extremely low film thickness for optimal fitting. It immediately bonds with the enamel and dentin to reduce microleakage, making it a versatile cement for post and screw cementation, cavity lining, and orthodontic band installment.
Dentaltix Price: € 59.87
Net32 Price: $ 94.93
Cement selection for your practice matters because the quality of your products produces the quality of your services. Easy-to-use cement and accessories help form strong, reliable bonds with your patient’s teeth, and cement that reduces sensitivity and has excellent aesthetics will give any indirect or direct restoration procedure the boost it needs to be successful. Our recommendations include Kerr’s Tempbond cement for accommodating those sensitive to eugenol and 3M’s UNICEM 2 for its easy prep time. For glass ionomers, the Ketac-cem provides an optimal fitting for restorations without sacrificing time during procedures.
