Evaluation of the Radiopacity of Some Luting, Lining and Filling Dental Cements

Background and Aim: To investigate the radiopacity of different luting, lining and filling dental cements used in prosthetic dentistry in comparison with human and bovine dental hard tissues. Material and methods: Eight cylindrical samples of each material (6 x 1 mm) were prepared from Aqualox (APC), Durelon (DE) and Adhesor Carbofine (ACF) zinc polycarboxylate cements, Cavex zinc oxide eugenol provisional filling cement (CZC), Adhesor zinc phosphate cement (AZP), Ketaccem Easymix (KCE) and Kavitan Plus A2 (KPL) glass ionomer luting cements, Provicol (PRC), Cavex (CTL) and PreVISION CEM (PTC) provisional luting cements, Dycal calcium hydroxide cement (DYC), Coltosol F temporary filling material (CLF) and Ketac Molar glass ionomer restorative material (KTM). The optical densities of each material, along with one tooth section (human canine), bovine dentin and enamel samples, and an aluminium step wedge, were measured from radiographical images using a transmission densitometer. The data were analysed by KruskalWallis and Dunnett T3 tests for post hoc comparison (α=0.05). Results: The radiopacity values of all materials were statistically significantly higher than human dentin except PRC (p<0.05). KTM, KPL, KCE, DYC and CTL had statistically similar radiopacity values to bovine enamel. The radiopacity values of CLF, APC, ACF, DE, CZC and AZP were statistically significantly higher than bovine enamel (p<0.05). Conclusions: The glass ionomer materials had the lowest radiopacity values. DYC and provisional luting cements had moderate radiopacity values that are higher than glass ionomer materials. The zinc phosphate cement had the highest radiopacity values.