Dental Cements & Liners for Restorative

Dental cements and liners are usually designed as chemical or light-cured formulations. There are five general types that dentists can choose from depending on the specific procedure they are doing and the location of the damaged tooth. These five types are:

• Resin cement
• Glass ionomer cement
• Resin-modified glass-ionomer cement
• Zinc phosphate cement
• Zinc polycarboxylate cement

Each of the materials used in cements and liners works in a distinct way that allows the dentist to achieve desired and lasting results. They differ in terms of bonding strength, so the dentist has to know how much force is going to be exerted before choosing their preferred material.

n restorative dentistry, liners and cements serve distinct yet crucial roles. Liners are applied as thin layers within a tooth cavity primarily to shield the dental pulp from thermal and chemical stresses from other restorative materials. They often contain therapeutic substances that support pulp health and cover exposed dentin, acting as a barrier against potential irritants.

Dental cements, on the other hand, are versatile materials used both for filling cavities or gaps and for securing restorations like crowns, bridges, and inlays to tooth structures, either permanently or temporarily. The choice among different types of cements—such as glass ionomer, resin, and zinc oxide-eugenol—depends on specific clinical requirements including biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and aesthetic needs. This differentiation ensures each material is used optimally according to its properties and the dental needs it serves.

In many cases, you will come across dental cements and liners divided into two categories, adhesive and non-adhesive. As the name suggests, adhesive cements form a bond between the tooth’s hard tissue and the restoration material. This type of retention is micromechanical and chemical.

Non-adhesive cements, on the other hand, use mechanical retention to hold everything together. These types of cements are usually based on the use of a reactive filler and water. Although technological advancements now mean that cements and liners may not be as important as they once were, they are still used depending on the procedure being conducted.

There is no one-size-fits-all type of cement or liner that can be used by a dentist. Choosing the best option for a particular procedure requires looking at the type of treatments to be done and the current condition of the periodontal tissue. 

A good dentist will also consider the type of substrate being bound, the procedure they will use, the restoration material, and the required duration. As such, any of the five common types of dental cements and liners can be used to produce great results on various restorative procedures.