Luting and bonding materials
Dental Cement Types
Dental cements are used to permanently or semi-permanently attach crowns, bridges, and other restorations to teeth or implant abutments. Common types include zinc phosphate, glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer, and resin cement — each with different strength, solubility, and technique requirements.
Common uses
- Cementing crowns and bridges onto teeth or implant abutments
- Attaching orthodontic brackets
- Sealing root canals (in endodontic cements)
Advantages
- + Modern resin cements offer strong, durable bonds and good aesthetics
- + Resin-modified glass ionomers combine bond strength with fluoride release
- + Different cement types allow matching to specific clinical requirements
Limitations
- − Cement failures (crowns coming loose) remain one of the more common restorative complications across all cement types
- − Excess cement around implant crowns that is not fully removed can cause peri-implant inflammation — a specific reason for careful technique
Frequently asked questions
Does excess cement around an implant crown cause problems?+
Yes — residual cement left in the gum pocket around an implant crown after cementation is a recognized cause of peri-implant inflammation and bone loss, which is why screw-retained crowns (which avoid cement entirely) are sometimes preferred for implants.
Are dental cements metal-free?+
Most modern dental cements are metal-free — they are generally polymer, glass, or phosphate-based materials. Traditional zinc phosphate cement is also metal-free in terms of metal content, despite containing zinc oxide.