Porcelain dental cements

In parallel to the work on zinc phosphate cements, porcelain dental cements also were developed. Steenbock [23] was the first to produce silicophosphate dental cement using 50 wt% concentrated phosphoric acid solution and an aluminosilicate glass. Schoenbeck [24] introduced fluoride fluxes in these glasses and vastly improved the dental cements. Fluorides lower the temperature of fusion of the glasses used in forming these cements. The same fluorides impart better translucency to the cement, and have some therapeutic effects. As a result, fluorides have become a part of modern dental cements. 

Wilson et al. [25] analyzed various brands of commercial cements and specified their possible composition, properties, and microstructure. Wilson et al. report the most representative and comprehensive data on commercial porcelain dental cements. These cements consist of powdered alumina-lime-silica glass mixed with phosphoric acid that formed a hard and translucent product. The starter glass powder consists of 31.5-41.6 wt% silica, 27.2-29.1 wt% alumina, 7.7-9.0wt% calcium oxide, 7.7-11.2 wt% sodium oxide, 13.3-22 wt% fluorine and small amounts of phosphorous and zinc oxides. Often very small amounts of magnesium and strontium oxides are also present. 

Zinc oxide has a wide range of uses apart from its use as an artist s pigment where it provides a more translucent white than flake white or titanium white. It is used in cosmetics, driers, quick-setting cements with syrupy phosphoric acid or zinc chloride in dental cement in the manufacture of opaque glass, enamels, car tyres, white glue, matches, white printing inks and porcelain. The photophysics of zinc oxide has been reviewed.1468 ... 

When freshly mixed, the carboxyHc acid groups convert to carboxjiates, which seems to signify chemical adhesion mainly via the calcium of the hydroxyapatite phase of tooth stmcture (32,34—39). The adhesion to dentin is reduced because there is less mineral available in this substrate, but bonding can be enhanced by the use of minerali2ing solutions (35—38). Polycarboxylate cement also adheres to stainless steel and clean alloys based on multivalent metals, but not to dental porcelain, resin-based materials, or gold alloys (28,40). It has been shown that basic calcium phosphate powders, eg, tetracalcium phosphate [1306-01-0], Ca4(P0 20, can be substituted for 2inc oxide to form strong, hydrolytically stable cements from aqueous solution of polyacids (41,42). 

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). 

Dental silicate cement was also variously known in the past as a translucent, porcelain or vitreous cement. The present name is to some extent a misnomer, probably attached to the cement in the mistaken belief that it was a silicate cement, whereas we now know that it is a phosphate-bonded cement. It is formed by mixing an aluminosilicate glass with an aqueous solution of orthophosphoric acid. After preparation the cement paste sets within a few minutes in the mouth. It is, perhaps, the strongest of the purely inorganic cements when prepared by conventional methods, with a compressive strength that can reach 300 MPa after 24 hours (Wilson et al, 1972). 

Abrasives - [ALUMINUMCOMPOUNDS - ALUMINIUMOXIDE(ALUMINA) - CALCINED,TABULAR, AND ALUMINATE CEMENTS] (Vol 2) -m automobile polishes [POLISITES] (Vol 19) -for dental materials [DENTAL MATERIALS] (Vol 7) -for enameling [ENAMELS, PORCELAIN OR VITREOUS] (Vol 9) -nitrides as [NITRIDES] (Vol 17) -particle shape classification m [SIZE MEASUREMENT OF PARTICLES] (Vol 22) -phenolic resins PHENOLIC RESINS] (Vol 18) -PVB m [VINYL POLYMERS - VINYL ACETAL POLYMERS] (Vol 24) -silicon carbide m [CARBIDES - SILICONCARBIDE] (Vol 4) -standards and specification [MATERIALS STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS] (Vol 16) -use m cosmetics [COSMETICS] (Vol 7) -use m electroplating cleaning pLECTROPLATING] (Vol 9)... 

Dental Ceramics, dental porcelain (q.v.) has been supplemented by other BIOCERAMICS, in particular apatites and alumina, for general maxillofacial restorative work, using crowns and implants. Metallising, metal-ceramic bonding and colour matching are important in dental ceramic work. BS 3365 specifies dental silicate and silico-phosphate cements BS 6039 glass-ionomer cements. 

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