Luting cements used in prosthodontics

Luting agent is any material used to attach or cement indirect restorations to prepared teeth. Dental cements are used as luting agents and restorative materials in the oral cavity. The most obvious use of dental cements is for permanently retaining metallic and non-metallic inlays, crowns, and bridges to tooth structure. Cements used in this manner are called "Luting agents" because they lute, or adhere, one surface to another. Other uses of dental cements include bonding of orthodontic appliances to the teeth and cementing pins and posts to retain restorations. The Use of restorative cements are restricted only to low stress bearing areas since they have low strength compared to resin-based composites and amalgam. Dental cements can also be used as protecting materials after the cavity preparation to protect the pulp against further trauma, like thermal and chemical insulating bases under metallic restorations and others like composites restorations and pulp-capping agent and cavity liners. Some fluoride-containing cements can be used as fissure sealants, root canal sealants, and core build-up for restoration of broken-down teeth.