Dental cements: a further update.

The Phenolate Cement Zinc oxide-eugenol cements have always been regarded as the blandest in terms of their effect on the dental pulp. For this reason, these materials were commonly used as the control in biocompatibility pulp research studies on cements and restorative materials. Zinc oxide-eugenol cements have traditionally been used as temporary restoratives because of the sedative effect on the pulp, which may be enhanced by the excellent seal they produce. As a young child, I always associated the characteristic lingering smell of the eugenol (oil of cloves) with a visit to the dentist. Replacing part of the eugenol liquid with ethoxy benzoic acid can produce cements that have greater strength. Zinc oxide-eugenol cements are in fact classified as “phenolate” cements based on the chemistry of the mixing liquid and the matrix of the set cement. Phenolate cements have been around for a long time.