A review of orthodontic cements and adhesives

Dental cements and resins are used intraorally to secure fixed orthodontic devices. Although cements are still used, the popularity of resin and resin-cement hybrid materials is increasing because of their improved physical properties and low solubility in oral fluids. Some cements bond chemically to enamel, but bond strengths are low because cements are brittle and fracture cohesively. Resin adhesives penetrate micropores in etched enamel and mechanical retentions in orthodontic devices, resulting in higher bond strengths because resins are more fracture resistant than cements. Resins, however, do not bond well in the presence of moisture, and their attachment to surfaces is primarily mechanical. Hybridized materials combine the advantages of cements and resins but also have certain disadvantages. Optimal material selection and application require an understanding of the chemical differences and physical limitations of today's orthodontic cements, resins, and hybrid materials.