Dental silicate cement applications

The glass polyalkenoate cement uniquely combines translucency with the ability to bond to untreated tooth material and bone. Indeed, the only other cement to possess translucency is the dental silicate cement, while the zinc polycarboxylate cement is the only other adhesive cement. It is also an agent for the sustained release of fluoride. For these reasons the glass polyalkenoate cement has many applications in dentistry as well as being a candidate bone cement. Its translucency makes it a favoured material both for the restoration of front teeth and to cement translucent porcelain teeth and veneers. Its adhesive quality reduces and sometimes eliminates the need for the use of the dental drill. The release of fluoride from this cement protects neighbouring tooth material from the ravages of dental decay. New clinical techniques have been devised to exploit the unique characteristics of the material (McLean Wilson, 1977a,b,c Wilson McLean, 1988 Mount, 1990). 

Historically, two acid-base cements were used in dentistry, their use dating back to the late 19th century. These were the zinc phosphate and dental silicate cements [7], These two remained in clinical service until at least the 1970s, and zinc phosphate continues to be used today, with its principal application being the luting of crowns [2],... 

A polymeric filling material which at present is still little used but has major potential when the properties are made more acceptable, is the glass ionomer (10) cement, known by the acronym ASPA - aluminosilicate glass, very similar to the glass of the dental silicate cement and an aqueous polyacrylic acid solution as the setting medium (Fig, 9). Its use currently is practically limited to cervical erosion repair. The more extensive application of this material has been hampered by the lack of esthetic appearance due to opacity and rather slow set. 

Calcium oxide is the main ingredient in conventional portland cements. Since limestone is the most abundant mineral in nature, it has been easy to produce portland cement at a low cost. The high solubility of calcium oxide makes it difficult to produce phosphate-based cements. However, calcium oxide can be converted to compounds such as silicates, aluminates, or even hydrophosphates, which then can be used in an acid-base reaction with phosphate, forming CBPCs. The cost of phosphates and conversion to the correct mineral forms add to the manufacturing cost, and hence calcium phosphate cements are more expensive than conventional cements. For this reason, their use has been largely limited to dental and other biomedical applications. Calcium phosphate cements have found application as structural materials, but only when wollastonite is used as an admixture in magnesium phosphate cements. Because calcium phosphates are also bone minerals, they are indispensable in biomaterial applications and hence form a class of useful CBPCs that cannot be substituted by any other. 

For high-temperature applications, sauereisen cement (Omega CC cement) and zinc oxychloride (dental cement) are useful irreversible cements. Sauereisen cement is made by suspending ceramic powders in sodium silicate solution ( water glass ). This cement sets very hard and withstands temperatures up to 1000°C. Zinc oxychloride is made by mixing calcined zinc oxide powder with concentrated zinc chloride solution. One can also use a ceramic putty (Omega CC high-temperature cement), which must be cured at 180°C and is then serviceable up to 850°C. 

These cements are based on the reaction product of phosphoric acid with other materials, such as sodium silicate, metal oxides and hydroxides, and the salts of the basic elements. Zinc phosphate is the most important phosphate cement and is widely used as permanent dental cement. It is also modified with silicones to produce dental-filling materials. Compressive strengths of up to 200 MPa are typical of these materials, which are formulated to have good resistance to water. Copper phosphates are used for similar applications, but they have a shorter useful life and are used primarily for their antiseptic qualities. Magnesium, aluminum, chromium, and zirconium phosphates are also used. ... 

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