[Zinc oxide-eugenol as dental material (1)]

Zinc oxide-eugenol cements are considerably better tolerated by tissue than other dental materials. As they alleviate pain and are bacteriostatic and antiseptic, they are well tolerated by patients. The cements are good insulators and possess better sealing properties than zinc phosphate cements. Because of their poor mechanic properties, the conventional zinc oxide-eugenol cements are mainly used as temporary fixing contents and filling materials, for gingival dressings and together with filling materials as impression materials. Recently, reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol cements and cements containing ethoxy benzoic acid (EBA) have been developed. These new cements have considerably better mechanic properties and are therefore used for cement bases, indirect capping, long-term temporary fillings and in selected cases as definite fixing cements.