A Comparative Study of the Retentive Strengths of Commercial and Indigenously Developed Luting Cements

Introduction: Superior adhesive strength in luting agents is of paramount significance in fixed partial denture success. In this in vitro study five cements were tested for retentive qualities, using both lathe-cut and hand-prepared specimens. Materials and methods: A total of 104 freshly extracted tooth specimens were prepared. Seventy of them were lathe-cut and 30 specimens were hand-prepared to simulate clinical conditions. Five different cements were tested, which included a compomer, a composite, a zinc phosphate, and 2 glass-ionomer luting cements. Of the 5, 2 trial cements were indigenously developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, India – a glassionomer cement (Chitra GIC) and a chemical-cure composite (Chitra CCC). All cements were compared within each group and between groups (lathe-prepared and hand-prepared). Results: GC Fuji 1 (GC America) exhibited superior retentive strengths in both lathe-cut and hand-prepared specimens, whereas the compomer cement displayed the lowest values when tested. In lathe-cut specimens, statistical analysis showed A Comparative Study of the Retentive Strengths of Commercial and Indigenously Developed Luting Cements using Both Lathe-cut and Clinically Simulated Specimens 1Joe Mathew, 2Byju P Kurian, 3Biju Philip, 4Sunil Mohammed, 5Preetha Menon, 6Rajan S Raj 1Department of Prosthodontics, PSM College of Dental Sciences and Research, Thrissur, Kerala, India 2Department of Prosthodontics, Annoor Dental College and Hospital, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India 3Department of Periodontics, Annoor Dental College and Hospital, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India 4Department of Pedodontics, Royal Dental College, Palakkad Kerala, India 5Department of Periodontics, PSM College of Dental Sciences and Research, Thrissur, Kerala, India 6Department of Prosthodontics, Amrita School of Dentistry Kochi, Kerala, India Corresponding Author: Joe Mathew, Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, PSM College of Dental Sciences and Research, Thrissur, Kerala, India, Phone: +919539239098 e-mail: [email protected] no significant difference between GC Fuji 1 and indigenously developed Chitra CCC. Conclusion: Both Chitra CCC and GC Fuji 1 have comparable strengths in lathe-cut samples, making Chitra CCC a potential luting agent. Statistical analysis reveals that all cements, except GC Fuji 1, exhibited a significant decrease in strength due to the change in design uniformity. The chemical bonding of GC Fuji 1 proves to be quite strong irrespective of shape and precision of the tooth crown. Clinical significance: The indigenously developed Chitra GIC and Chitra CCC showed promising results to be used as a potential luting agent.