Clinical study of two luting cements used on student-treated patients: an interim report

A long-term clinical test has been started to compare a zinc phosphate with a polycarboxylate cement as luting materials for crowns and fixed partial dentures. The present report includes an evaluation of two groups of student-treated patients regarding their suitability for this type of testing, as well as certain clinical and radiographic criteria recorded 6 and 18 months after insertion of the restorations. No significant differences were observed regarding the composition of the patients or the type of treatment. No loosening of restorations and no differences between the two groups in other respects such as subjective complaints, clinical symptoms, carious lesions, or periapical changes were observed. So far, both cements seem equally suitable as luting materials.