American Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, 2014, Vol. 2, No. 3, 28-35 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajmse/2/3/1 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/ajmse-2-3-1 A Review of Conventional and Contemporary Luting Agents Used in Dentistry Sita Ramaraju DV 1 , Rama Krishna Alla 2,* , Venkata Ramaraju Alluri 3 , Raju MAKV 4 1 Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India 2 Department of Dental Materials, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India 3 Department of Prosthodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India 4 Department of Orthodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India *Corresponding author: ramakrishna.a@vdc.edu.in Received August 01, 2014; Revised August 12, 2014; Accepted August 15, 2014 Abstract The selection of an appropriate luting agent influences the long-term clinical success of fixed prosthodontic restorations. There are varieties of luting agents available from conventional water-based to contemporary adhesive resin cements. However, no single luting agent is capable of meeting all the stringent requirements. Introduction of adhesive resin systems has completely changed the face of fixed prosthodontic practice leading to an increased use of bonded all-ceramic crowns and resin-retained fixed partial dentures. This review aims at presenting an overview of current cements and discusses physical properties, biocompatibility and other properties that make particular cement the preferred choice depending on the clinical indication. Keywords: dental luting agents, cements, biocompatibility, film thickness, adhesion Cite This Article: Sita Ramaraju DV, Rama Krishna Alla, Venkata Ramaraju Alluri, and Raju MAKV, “A Review of Conventional and Contemporary Luting Agents Used in Dentistry.” American Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, vol. 2, no. 3 (2014): 28-35. doi: 10.12691/ajmse-2-3-1. 1. Introduction Dental cements are used as luting agents and restorative materials in the oral cavity. The most obvious use of dental cements is for permanently retaining metallic and non-metallic inlays, crowns, and bridges to tooth structure. Cements used in this manner are called Luting agents because they lute, or adhere, one surface to another. Other uses of dental cements include bonding of orthodontic appliances to the teeth and cementing pins and posts to retain restorations. The Use of restorative cements have restricted only to low stress bearing areas since they have low strength compared to resin-based composites and amalgam. Dental cements can also be used as protecting materials after the cavity preparation to protect the pulp against further trauma, like thermal and chemical- insulating bases under metallic restorations and others like composites restorations and pulp-capping agent and cavity liners. Some fluoride-containing cements can be used as fissure sealants, root canal sealants, and core build-up for restoration of broken-down teeth [1-9]. This article reviews numerous luting cements, their composition, chemistry, properties with their advantages and disadvantages from the literature available in PUBMED and other sources from the past 40 years. 2. Development of Dental Cements Zinc phosphate cement is considered as the oldest luting agent, which was invented by Peirce in 1878 and it has the longest track record as a luting agent to secure cast restoration for more than 130 years. It serves as a standard by which newer systems can be compared [1,2]. In the beginning of the 20 th century (1903) Silicate cements were developed. These were the earliest of the direct tooth colored filling materials. The silicate cements may be considered as precursors of more modern products such as composite resin and glass Ionomer cements. The durability of a silicate restoration depends critically on the care taken in handling the material and on the oral hygiene of the patient [2]. In 1968, however, a new kind of cement was produced by D.C. Smith using zinc oxide as powder and polycarboxylic acid as liquid component. The result is the so- called polyacrylate cement. It was the first cement system developed with a potential for adhesion to tooth structure. It is primarily used for cementation of indirect restorations and thermal insulating base [2,10]. Wilson and Kent developed Glass Ionomer Cements in 1969. Glass ionomer cements were developed in an attempt to capitalize on the favourable properties of both silicate and polycarboxylate cements. So, glass ionomer is the generic name of a group of materials that use silicate glass powder and an aqueous solution of polyacrylic acid. This material acquires its name from its formulation of glass powder and an ionomeric acid that contains carboxylic (COOH) groups which help in chemical bonding with the natural tooth and to certain alloys as well. Glass ionomer cements are also referred to as