The flow properties of dental cements

The flow properties of several major types of dental cements were investigated using slow compressive strength and creep techniques. Considerable differences were found in their behavior. Whereas the phosphate-bonded and glass-ionomer cements exhibited brittle fracture, the other cements tended to distort to a greater or lesser extent under load. All cements showed some creep under load but the extent of this varied considerably; the creep of phosphate-bonded cements being very small and that of the eugenol and related cements considerable.