Common uses include temporary restoration of teeth, cavity linings to provide pulpal protection, sedation or insulation and cementing fixed prosthodontic appliances.
[1] Recent uses of dental cement also include two-photon calcium imaging of neuronal activity in brains of animal models in basic experimental neuroscience.
[3] Amalgam does not bond to tooth tissue and therefore requires mechanical retention in the form of undercuts, slots and grooves.
Historically, zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate cements were used for this technique; however, since the mid-1980s composite resins have been the material of choice due to their adhesive properties.
In order to encourage pulpal recovery, it is important to use a sedative, non-cytotoxic material such as setting calcium hydroxide cement.
However, issues with the clinical use of zinc phosphate are its initially low pH when applied in an oral environment (linked to pulpal irritation) and the cement's inability to chemically bond to the tooth surface, although this has not affected the successful long-term use of the material.
It does not possess anticariogenic effects, is not adherent to tooth structure, and acquires a moderate degree of intraoral solubility.
[11] Dental materials such as filling and orthodontic instruments must satisfy biocompatibility requirements as they will be in the oral cavity for a long period of time.
Although classified as non-cariogenic by the US Food and Drug Administration, eugenol is proven to be cytotoxic with the risk of anaphylactic reactions in certain patients.
Allergy contact dermatitis has been proven to be the highest clinical occurrence usually localised to soft tissues with buccal mucosa being the most prevalent.