Dental Cements Guide: Choosing the Right Material for Every Procedure
Taking care of your patients is your number one priority, and that means you need to be able to have the right tools, resources, and consumables at your disposal. Taking a moment to work through this quick guide will introduce you to the many new types of dental cement. Ideal when you want to make sure that you’re giving your patients everything they need, and nothing more.
Let’s get started so that we can dive into the details!
Zinc Phosphate Cement
This zinc-based option is a traditional strong cement that is generally used for luting crowns and bridges. The durability of the cement stems from its acidic formulation, and durability is the primary reason that it is used. As you no doubt already know, the downside of this variety of cement is that the acidic formulation can cause a degree of pulp irritation. This means it may not be the perfect choice when working on a patient who has particularly sensitive or damaged teeth.
Glass Ionomer Cement
A type of cement that offers fluoride release, which is suitable for caries-prone patients, is the second entry on our shortlist. By being able to address the starting points of highly advanced tooth decay, while at the same time durably bonding to the tooth structure, glass ionomer cement presents a highly versatile option. Ideal when you want to be able to improve patient care and positive outcomes by individualising your approach to dental care.
Polycarboxylate Cement
A highly biocompatible option that is known for its strong adhesive properties and suitability when working with patients who have exposed or damaged pulp. The cement bonds quickly to the intended surface, making sure that a clear improvement is achieved with minimal waiting time or curing time. The biocompatible nature also makes it ideal when working with patients who may have other issues, such as chronic gum disease.
Universal Resin Cement
Options like RelyX act as a highly durable and extremely versatile universal solution that will be sufficient in the vast majority of cases. If you want to streamline your stock and make certain fundamental aspects of patient care more uniform, this is one way to do it. RelyX, in particular, is known for its high bonding strength and ability to adapt and adhere to a wide range of different tooth structure conditions.
Resin Cement
This tends to be the cement of choice when you need to go about bonding ceramic and composite restorations. A combination of high bond strength and desirable aesthetic properties makes this popular cement one of the most widely used classes out there. If you add in the fact that the formulations have been tried and tested for many years, you start to see why practices across the country have come to rely on it.
Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Cement
A structured blend of both types of cement results in a hybrid solution that is highly versatile, durable, and adaptable. The way in which it can bond to a wide array of different tooth structure surface conditions makes it a key tool for any busy practice. It also allows you to get more in-depth with the personalised choices you give every patient, allowing you to adapt to their individual needs and preferences.
Temporary Cements
Last but by no means least, this class of cement is mainly used for short-term restorations because of the fact that it can be easily removed. This is by design and does not mean that you struggle to create a resilient bond using the cement. The formulations are carefully balanced to make sure that you can find the right blend of bonding strength and ease of removal. Ideal when you want to be able to deliver for your patients at all times.
What to Look For in a Dental Cement Supplier
Looking for a trusted national supplier with nationwide reach is the best course of action here. A nationwide supplier of dental consumables will also hold plenty of stock in reserve so that you can rapidly adapt to the evolving needs of your practice. By making sure that you choose someone who has a lengthy track record of coming through for their customers and clients, you can make sure that your practice is always in the best possible hands.
Now that you know your options and how to order them, it’s over to you to focus on what you do best. Trust us, your patients are definitely going to thank you for it!
