RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF DENTAL CEMENTS

DREW F. OLDHAM, D.D.S.," MARJORIE L. SWARTZ, MS."" AND

RALPH W. PHILLIPS, D.Sc.***
Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Ind.

have been employed for investigating the retentive properties

V ARIOUS METHODS
of dental cements. Generally, the techniques have involved cementing compo-
nents such as metal, glass, and tooth structure and then determining the forces
required for separation.l-I1 Jensen,12in a study concerned with the influence of
variation in the flare of the axial walls on the retention of cemented restorations,
presented a method which seemedto offer a practical ineans for evaluating the re-
tentive characteristics of various luting agents. The experiment consisted of cement-
ing plug type inlays into the dentin of extracted teeth and then measuring the ten-
sile stress required to remove the cemented restoration. However, the research of
Jensen measured the retentive qualities of only one type of dental cement, that is,
zinc phosphate.
The purpose of this investigation was to compare the retentive properties of
a variety of common cementing materials with those of zinc phosphate cement. In
addition, the effect of cavity liners and bases upon the retention afforded by zinc
phosphate cement was studied.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

Extracted, sound maxillary molar teeth were selected for use in this study. The
teeth were stored in tap water immediately following extraction and throughout the
course of the experiment. They were embedded in a block of self-curing resin and
the occlusal surfaces ground flat, by means of a wet stone, in order that a flat cavo-
surface angle could be formed at the periphery of the cavity preparation.
Cavity preparations were made in the teeth by means of a small, high-speed
drill press utilizing dental rotary instruments. The drill press was set to cut to a
depth of 2.5 mm. Water was used as a coolant during the cutting procedures. Steel

This research supported, in part, by a research grant, D-433, from the National Institute of
Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
*Instructor, Crown and Bridge Department.
**Assistant Professor of Dental Materials.
***Research Professor and Chairman, Department of Dental Materials.
760
gLILle; 144 RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF DENTAL CEMENTS 761

burs were employed to block out the preparation and a Densco 7-D taper diamond
instrument was used to finish the cavity. The finished cavity preparation had a floor
diameter of 4.5 mm. and an occlusal opening 5.0 mm. in diameter. The resulting wall
flare was 7 degrees. The surface area of the preparation was 0.077 square inches.
Cavosurface bevel was omitted in order to control better the length of the axial
walls. In this manner standardized cavity preparations, uniform in size, shape, and
texture were produced.
Direct wax patterns were fabricated from Kerr’s regular blue inlay wax, utiliz-
ing a pour-pressure technique. A 10 gauge wax rod was attached at the center of the
pattern. This rod was formed into a hook in such a manner that the maximum
curvature was directly over the center of the pattern. The hook thus served as a
sprue for the inlay. The pattern and the tooth were marked in order that the gold
casting could be repeatedly removed and re-inserted into the same position in the
cavity preparation. The patterns were invested and reproduced in a Type III dental
gold alloy.
The retentive ability of six commercial dental cements, representing several
different types of cements, was tested. The cavity liners and base materials selected
for use in this study were considered to be representative of the proprietary products
which are supplied for these purposes. The materials are listed in Table I.
The standard consistencies of the cements which are employed in a powder and
liquid form were determined by the methods described in American Dental Associa-
tion Specifications Numbers 8 and 9 for zinc phosphate cement and for silicate ce-
ment, respectively. l3 However, these mixes were found to be too thick for the ce-
mentation of the cast gold restoration. Upon experimentation it was found that

TABLE I. MATERIALSUSEDINTHETESTS

MATERIAL BRANDNAME MANUFACTURER

I

Zinc phosphate Tenacin L. D. Caulk Co.

Milford, Del.
Silica-phosphate Kryptex S. S. White Co.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Silicate New Filling Porcelain S. S. White Co.
Philadelphia, Pa.
Zinc oxide-eugenol Temrex Interstate Dental Co.
New York, N. Y.
Zinc oxide-eugenol Temporary Cement L. D. Caulk Co.
Milford, Del.
Zinc oxide-eugenol Temp-Bond Kerr Co.
Detroit, Mich.
Varnish Copalite Harry J. Bosworth
Chicago, Ill.
Varnish Repelac L. D. Caulk Co.
Milford. Del.
Calcium hydroxide Pulpdent Rower Dental Mfg. Corp.
suspension, Boston, Mass.
polystyrene
Zinc oxide-eugenol Cavitec Kerr Co.
(base) Detroit, Mich.
Ca[taci; hydroxide Dycal L. D. Caulk Co.
Milford, Del.
 J. Pros. Den.
762 OLDHAM, SWARTZ, PHILLIPS July-Aug., 1961

Fig. 1.-T ‘he apparatus used to measure the retention of a restoration. A tensi ile load is used
to r amove the inlay cemented into standardized cavity preparations with various lutjng al rents.
Volume 14
Number 4
RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF DENTAL CEMENTS 763

mixes suitable for cementation could be made with each material by using 75 per
cent of the powder required to provide a mix of standard consistency. The powder-
liquid ratios established in this manner were used throughout the study.
Three of the materials (Dycal, Cavitec, and Temp-Bond) are furnished in paste
form and these products were proportioned by extruding equal lengths of pastes
from the tubes, as directed by the respective manufacturers.
Prior to cementation of the inlays, the cavity preparations were carefully
cleaned with a pledget of cotton moistened with chloroform and air-dried. The ce-
ments were mixed on a cool, dry slab. The entire operation of mixing the cement,
seating the restoration, and removing the excess cement was completed within 3
minutes. The cemented specimens were then placed in 100 per cent humidity for 30
minutes, after which they were stored in water for 24 hours, when the retention
was measured.
In order to measure the effects of cavity varnishes on retentive properties, the
varnishes were utilized in conjunction with the zinc phosphate cement, Tenacin. A
thin, continuous coat of the varnish was applied to the floor and walls of the cavity
preparation by means of a small brush and the varnish was air-dried. No attempt
was made to remove the varnish from the margins of the cavity preparations prior
to cementation. Pulpdent, the calcium hydroxide liner, was applied to the cavity
floor and walls by means of a brush. Great care was taken in application in order
to keep the margins free of the liner material.
In order to measure the effects of the base materials, Dycal and Cavitec, a
“well” or depression was placed in the floor of the cavity preparations by means of
a round bur. A narrow ledge of the cavosurface floor was allowed to remain around
the periphery of the preparation in order to act as stop for the inlay. The base
materials were placed into this depression. After the bases had hardened, the inlays
were seated with zinc phosphate cement.
In order to measure the amount of tensile force necessary to remove the ce-
mented inlays from the cavity preparations, an apparatus was fabricated for hold-
ing the specimens in the testing machine. A diagram of this apparatus is shown in
Fig. 1. A wire with a soldered loop on the end was placed in the upper jaws of the
testing machine. The tooth with the inlay cemented in place was suspended in this
loop by means of the hook on the casting. A wire yoke which fitted over the acrylic
resin block holding the tooth was clamped in the lower jaws of the machine. The
specimens were loaded at a cross-head rate of 0.020 inch per minute.
The amount of stress required to remove the inlays when seated with zinc phos-
phate cement served as the standard on control. For this reason, each group of in-
lays was first cemented in the respective cavity preparations with zinc phosphate ce-
ment and the retention was tested.
Preliminary tests showed some variation in results upon consecutive cementa-
tion of an individual inlay, even with the same cementing material. Therefore, every
inlay was cemented four consecutive times with each material. A minimum of five
inlays was used with each of the materials; hence, each of the values presented is
the mean of 20 tests.
No more than three products were tested with any given tooth. After each
test, the cement was carefully removed from the cavity preparation, and the tooth
 J. Pros. Den.
764 OLDHAM, SWARTZ, PHILLIPS
July-Aug., 1964

RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF

DENTAL CEMENTS AS COMPARED

TO ZINC PHOSPHATE CEMENT

fzl Zinc Phosphate

Control
Cement

90
Other Cementing Agents

70

!z
60
E!
e:
2 50

40

Fig. 2.-The tensile forces required to remove inlays cemented with various luting agents
are compared on a percentage basis. Zinc phosphate cement is represented as 100 per cent and
all other materials are related to this value.

structure was washed with tap water. When cements containing phosphoric acid
were employed, the castings were cleaned in 50 per cent hydrochloric acid. When
zinc oxide and eugenol cements were employed, chloroform was used to clean the
restoration. When either a varnish or zinc oxide cement was used, the cavity prep-
arations were flushed with chloroform. However, the teeth and inlays employed
with the zinc oxide-eugenol cements were never re-cemented with any of the ma-
terials which contained phosphoric acid as it was feared that these cements might
be contaminated by the eugenol.

RESULTS

The results of tests conducted to determine the relative retentive properties of

the various Wing agents appear in Table II. The average tensile stress required to
Volume 14
Number 4 RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF DENTAL CEMENTS 76.5

remove inlays seated with each of the cements is compared on a percentage basis to
the average tensile stress necessary to remove the restorations when cemented with
zinc phosphate cement. In the summary of the data presented in Fig. 2, the experi-
mental materials are compared directly to the amount of tensile stress required to
remove each specific group of inlays when seated with zinc phosphate cement. These
data differ somewhat in magnitude from those presented in Table II where calcula-
tions were based upon the average results obtained with zinc phosphate cement.
These data indicate that none of the cements possess retentive properties su-
perior to zinc phosphate cement. Although the average tensile force required to re-
move inlays cemented with the silica-phosphate cement (Kryptex) was 20 per cent
less than when the same castings were cemented with zinc phosphate cement, this
difference is approximatelv the same as the coefficient of variation. However, the
loss in retention with all of the other cements is greater than the coefficient of varia-
tion and is thus considered significant.
Restorations cemented with the zinc oxide-eugenol cements exhibited varying
degrees of resistance to the tensile load, depending on the composition of the ce-
ment. However, in every instance less force was required to remove the restorations

TABLE II. TENSILESTRESSREQUIREDTO REMOVE INLAYSCEMENTEDWITHVARIOUSAGENTSAS

COMPAREDTOTHOSE CEMENTEDWITH~INC PHOSPHATE CEMENT

EXPERIMENTALCEMENTING PERCENT OF
AGENT P.&I. c.v.* Zll PHoSPHATEj

Kryptex 330 72

Temrex
New Filling Porcelain 210
285 ;:12 8:
Cavitec
Temporary Cement 180
105 11 Gi
Temp-Bond 1.5 27 3

Std. Dev. x 100

*Per cent C.V. is Coefacient of Variation =
tAverage stress required to remove the inlays wh%e,%kd with zinc phosphate cement, 456 p. s. i.

TABLE III. TENSILE STRESS REQUIRED TO REMOVE INLAYS CEMENTED WITH ZINCPHOSPHATE
CEMENT,WITHANDWITHOUTCERTAINVARNISHESANDBASES

PERCENT OF
LINER OR BASE P.S.I. c.v.* ZIl PHOSPHATEt

Copalite 449 19 91
Repelac 495 2; 100

Pulpdent
Dycal 340
540 13 1:;
Cavitec 435 11 8.5

Std. Dev. x 100

*Per cent C.V. is Coefncient of Variation =
iAverage stress required to remove the inlays w&E%ed with zinc phosphate cement. 496 p, s. i.
 J. Pros. Den.
766 OLDHAM, SWARTZ, PHILLIPS July-Aug., 1964

than with any of the three phosphoric acid materials. Inlays cemented with Cavitec
could be displaced with approximately 20 per cent of the amount of force required
with zinc phosphate cement while only 3 per cent of the tensile force was required
with Temp-Bond. It should be pointed out, however, that Cavitec is not designed
for cementation but is recommended as a base or lining agent under other restora-
tives, and Temp-Bond, as the name implies, is designed only for temporary cementa-

EFFECT OF CAVITY LINERS AND BASES

ON THE RETENTIVE PROPERTIES OF ZINC

PHOSPHATE CEMENT

Zinc Phosphate
El Control

Zinc Phosphate

Liner zr Base

70

!s 60
5
2 50
&
40

30

20

10

Fig. 3.-The amount of tensile force required to remove inlays cemented with zinc phosphate
cement is compared to the amount of force required to remove those same inlays when bases
and cavity liners were utilized in conjunction with the luting agent. The zinc phosphate cement,
when used alone, served as the standard and is represented by 100 per cent. The other experi-
mental groups are plotted accordingly.
\‘olume 14
Sumher 4
RETEXTlVE PROPERTIES OF DENTAL CEMEKTS 767

tion. The manufacturer states that the material has a very low strength in order
to facilitate removal of cast appliances before permanent cementation.
The effects of cavity varnishes, calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide-eugenol
bases on the retentive properties of zinc phosphate cement appear in Table III.
Again the data presented in the summary (Fig. 3) were computed on the basis of
the results obtained with each specific group of inlays when cemented with zinc
phosphate cement and hence differ in magnitude from those shown in Table III.-
The use of the cavity varnishes before cementation did not alter the retentive
properties of the cement. The differences are not greater than the coefficient of varia-
tion. Likewise, neither the calcium hydroxide base, Dycal, nor the zinc oxide-
eugenol base, Cavitec, influenced the retention of the inlays. The only reduction in
retention which appeared to be significant was induced by the calcium hydroxide
liner, Pulpdent.

DISCUSSION

The results obtained in this study are in close agreement with those obtained
in a similar investigation which was conducted to assess the abilities of cements to
retain orthodontic bands.l” In both of these studies, it was found that appreciably
higher tensile loads were required to unseat appliances cemented with zinc phos-
phate and silica-phosphate cement than with zinc oxide-eugenol cement.
Although it is true that the phosphoric acid cements are considerably stronger
than zinc oxide-eugenol cements and the inlays cemented with the former did ex-
hibit the greater resistance to removal, an unequivocal relationship between com-
pressive strength and retentive properties was not demonstrated in this study. For
example, the compressive strength of both silicate and silica-phosphate cement is
higher than that of zinc phosphate cement; however, inlays seated with zinc phos-
phate invariably required higher tensile loads to remove the cemented inlay. These
results would suggest that other factors may be involved. For example, silicate and
silica-phosphate cement have greater film thicknesses than zinc phosphate cements.
4n investigation of the effect of film thickness on retentive properties might prove
interesting.
The complexity of the stress patterns present in the oral cavity is appreciated
and the difficulty of clinical interpretation of these data recognized.
It is felt, however, that certain conjectures can be made on the basis of informa-
tion obtained in this study. For example, it would not seem wise to utilize a zinc
oxide-eugenol material for cementation in areas of high stress or where retention is
greatly dependent on the cementing medium. The results also indicate that the pre-
cautionary measure of using a cavity varnish prior to cementation, in order to pro-
tect the tooth from the phosphoric acid present in certain types of cements, can be
recommended without fear of a deleterious effect upon retention. By the same token
neither the zinc oxide base nor calcium hydroxide base had a significant effect
on retention. Only the calcium hydroxide cavity liner, Pulpdent, when painted on
the surfaces of the cavity preparation reduced the retention of the cement. How-
ever, if this material had been confined entirely to the floor of the preparation or
placed in a depression, as were the base materials, it also might have had uo influ-
ence on retention.
 J. Pros. Den.
768 OLDHAM, SWARTZ, PHILLIPS
July-Aug., 1964

SUMMARY

The relative retentive properties of various luting agents were investigated by

measurement of the tensile force necessary to remove cast gold, occlusal inlays
seated with the different cements. The influence of the cement base and cavity liners
on retention was also studied.
1. Inlays cemented with the zinc phosphate cement (Tenacin) offered the
greatest resistance to removal. The results obtained with Kryptex, the silico-phos-
phate cement, were essentially the same but the retention decreased when the sili-
cate cement, New Filling Porcelain, was used.
2. Inlays cemented with the zinc oxide-eugenol cements, Temrex, and Tem-
porary Cement, required less force to remove than when the same restorations were
seated with the phosphoric acid cements. There were some differences between in-
dividual products. One material, Temp-Bond, designed for temporary cementation,
exhibited considerably less retention than the others.
3. Varnish-type cavity liners, Copalite and Repelac, did not appreciably alter
the retentive properties of zinc phosphate cement, although use of Pulpdent, a
liner consisting of a suspension of calcium hydroxide, did impair the retention
somewhat.
4. The retention of inlays cemented with zinc phosphate cement was not af-
fected by placing either a zinc oxide-eugenol (Cavitec) base or calcium hydroxide
(Dycal) base in a depression in the floor of the cavity.

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