Free Tool

Which cement
goes on this crown?

Pick restoration type, material and substrate — get the recommended cement, a step-by-step cementation protocol, and clinical tips.

Single CrownSingle unit
Bridge2+ units
VeneerCeramic laminate
Inlay / OnlayPartial restoration
Implant CrownCemented
Post + CrownPrior endo
ZirconiaMonolithic or multilayer
IPS e.maxLithium disilicate
PFMPorcelain-fused-to-metal
FeldspathicGlass-ceramic
PMMAProvisional
Indirect CompositeReinforced resin
EnamelIntact surface
DentinExposed surface
Metal CoreCast or prefab
Titanium AbutmentImplant
Zirconia AbutmentImplant
Fiber PostEndodontics
Good mechanical retention?
Prep has parallel walls, adequate height, and taper <10°
Esthetic zone? (visible anterior)

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Why it matters

The wrong cement is the second leading cause of prosthetic failure

After recurrent caries, picking the wrong luting agent is the most common driver of debonds, marginal leakage, and restoration fracture. A bad cement choice can wreck years of clinical work in weeks.

67%
Preventable debonds

Two thirds of early debonds trace back to cement-substrate mismatch. Not a technique problem. A selection problem.

4x
More retentive with the right protocol

A resin cement with the right surface treatment generates up to 4x the retention of a conventional cement used without protocol.

$$$
Cost of the remake

Remaking a crown after a debond means another impression, another provisional, another lab invoice, and lost patient trust. The right cement costs pennies in comparison.

Methodology

How the decision matrix works

Cement selection isn't a personal preference. It's a clinical decision tree based on three variables: the restoration material, the core substrate, and retention requirements.

1

Identify the restoration material

Glass-ceramics (e.max, feldspathic) need hydrofluoric acid etching and silanization. Zirconia needs alumina sandblasting or MDP-containing primers. Metals get a different treatment than any ceramic.

2

Evaluate the core substrate

Enamel allows conventional acid etching. Dentin requires a bonding agent. Metal or fiber posts change the protocol. Composite cores on implants have their own rules.

3

Determine the retention requirement

Preps with good convergence and height can use conventional cements. Short, tapered preps, or implant cases where retrievability is needed, require specific cements or high-strength temporaries.

4

Pick the surface protocol

Cement without surface protocol is like painting over grease. HF + silane for glass-ceramics, sandblasting + MDP for zirconia, sandblasting + opaquer for metal. Every combo has its own exact sequence.

Common mistakes

5 cementation mistakes we see every week

These aren't rookie errors. They're entrenched habits that seasoned clinicians repeat because that's how they've always done it.

1

Resin cement on zirconia without surface treatment

Zirconia is inert to hydrofluoric acid. Without alumina sandblasting (50 microns, 2 bar) and an MDP-containing primer, resin cement has no chemical bond. The union is purely mechanical and fails under cyclic load.

2

Glass ionomer on e.max veneers

Lithium disilicate veneers depend 100% on adhesion to survive. They have no mechanical retention. Glass ionomer doesn't generate the adhesive bond required. Only a resin cement with HF etching and silane gives the bond strength needed.

3

Definitive cement on implant crowns

Implant-supported restorations must be retrievable. If you definitively cement a crown on an implant abutment, any complication (loose screw, peri-implantitis) forces you to destroy the restoration. A high-strength temporary cement lets you remove it without damage.

4

Skipping silane on lithium disilicate

HF etching creates mechanical microretentions, but silane is the chemical coupling agent that links the organic phase of the cement to the inorganic phase of the ceramic. Without silane, you lose 40-60% of the bond strength.

5

Not isolating during adhesive cementation

Saliva or blood contamination drops adhesive bond strength by up to 50%. If you can't use a rubber dam, at least use relative isolation with cotton rolls and a saliva ejector. Moisture is the invisible enemy of adhesion.

FAQ

What we get asked most

Can I use one universal cement for everything?

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There's no truly universal cement. Self-adhesive resin cements are the most versatile, but they still have limits. They don't perform well on substrates with little remaining tooth structure, they're not ideal for veneers, and their bond strength to untreated zirconia is significantly lower than a conventional resin cement with a full protocol.

Temporary or definitive for implant restorations?

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Current thinking favors high-strength temporary cements or controlled-retention cements. The reason is retrievability: if you need to access the implant screw, remove the abutment to treat peri-implantitis, or replace components, a definitive cement turns a simple procedure into destroying the restoration.

What's the difference between self-adhesive and conventional?

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Conventional resin cement requires a separate adhesive system (etch + primer + bonding agent) before placing the cement. Self-adhesive cements integrate the acidic monomers into the formula and bond directly to the tooth with no prior steps. Convenience versus performance: conventional generates higher bond strength but needs more steps and is more technique-sensitive.

Can the cement get contaminated if the prep touches saliva?

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Yes. Salivary contamination after etching the tooth or treating the restoration surface significantly compromises the bond. If it happens, you need to clean with alcohol, re-etch enamel, re-apply silane on ceramic, and re-apply the bonding agent. Drying and continuing isn't enough.

How long before dental cement expires?

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Most resin cements have a 2-3 year shelf life when stored correctly (refrigerated, shielded from light). Conventional glass ionomers last longer. The real problem is storage: cements exposed to heat or UV light in the operatory can degrade well before the printed expiration.

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