Best Cement for Crown Luting

Categories: Prosthodontics;
Best Cement for Crown Luting

What dentists use and why


Thread summary: This Dentaltown thread is a massive, decades-deep clinical crowdsourcing of crown luting protocols. The overwhelming consensus is that no cement is universally best; the right choice depends on prep design, crown material, isolation, and clinician preference.

RMGI cements like RelyX Luting Plus and Fuji Plus are the go-to for most zirconia, PFM, gold, and well-retentive preps. They’re praised for simplicity, fluoride release, and ease of cleanup. Many Townies report >95% of crowns done this way with near-zero debonds, even with e.max, despite 3M not recommending it.

Resin cements (e.g., Panavia V5, Variolink Esthetic, NX3, Multilink) are preferred when bonding is essential, like with short preps, veneers, or thin e.max. However, many dentists argue that bonding is overhyped, expensive, more technique sensitive, and not significantly more retentive for full-coverage crowns.

Self-adhesive resins like Unicem 2 and SpeedCEM sparked debate. Some swear by their convenience, others criticize their grayish esthetics and limited bond strength. Cleanup can be difficult if overcured. Multiple users reported switching back to RMGI for predictability.

Zirconia protocols vary. Many use Ivoclean or sandblasting to remove phosphate contamination, followed by RMGI cement, no silane. Others add Z-prime or Scotchbond Universal for insurance. Bonding to zirconia is generally dismissed as unreliable long term.

E.max
For anterior esthetics or low prep retention, bonding is common. But many now cement with RMGI (despite official recommendations) and report excellent long-term success. Silane is helpful with resin bonding but not needed for RMGI. Etching e.max is critical, but sandblasting weakens it.

Cement cleanup tips
Early flossing, tack cure for 1–3 seconds, and using tools like serrated strips, 12 blades, or circumferential bands were widely shared. Common pitfalls include overfilling crowns, overcuring resin cements, or skipping interproximal cleanup.

Philosophy
Many dentists emphasize “a good prep trumps the cement.” Debonded crowns nearly always show cement in the crown, not on the tooth, indicating prep failure. Several posters cite 10–30 year success with zinc phosphate, Fuji Plus, and even Durelon.

Bottom line
Prep well, isolate properly, know your materials, and clean thoroughly. RelyX Luting Plus and FujiCEM/Fuji Plus dominate for simplicity and reliability. Bond only when necessary, and even then, do it by the book.


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