As of May 2026, dental cements and luting agents remain one of the most under-considered categories in the operatory — until something fails. A debonded crown at month four is rarely a clinician error; it is more often a mismatch between the cement chemistry and the clinical situation. This guide breaks down how Canadian dental practices in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area can choose the right cement for every case, and which products on the EBIKO Dental shelf earn their place.
Cements have evolved faster in the last decade than most consumables in dentistry. Glass ionomer chemistries that once dominated cementation have been steadily displaced by self-adhesive resin cements, dual-cure systems, and increasingly nuanced temporary cements. The result is a more capable category — and a more confusing one for practice owners trying to decide what actually deserves space in the inventory cabinet.
The Five Cement Categories Every Practice Should Stock
Modern restorative practice demands a working set of cements that can cover the full range of indirect restorations. Stocking too few categories means improvising in the moment. Stocking too many means expired product on the shelf. The five categories that earn their place in nearly every Ontario practice:
- Self-adhesive resin cements: The everyday workhorses for crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays
- Dual-cure adhesive resin cements: For aesthetic anterior cases and bonded post-and-core procedures
- Glass ionomer luting cements: For metal-based crowns and orthodontic bands where fluoride release is valuable
- Resin-modified glass ionomers: A practical middle ground for many crown cementations
- Temporary cements (eugenol and non-eugenol): For provisional restorations and try-in stages
Self-Adhesive Resin Cements: The Everyday Choice
If a practice could only stock one category, it would be self-adhesive resin cements. These cements bond chemically to the tooth substrate without requiring a separate etch and bond step, which dramatically reduces chair time and procedural sensitivity. They handle the vast majority of zirconia, lithium disilicate, and metal-ceramic crown cementations.
EBIKO Dental stocks several leading self-adhesive resin cements with different handling characteristics. The 3M RelyX Unicem Self-Adhesive Resin Cement Aplicap Capsules remain a clinical standard, with predictable bond strengths and excellent radiopacity. For practices favouring an automix syringe over capsules, RelyX Universal Resin Cement Automix simplifies dispensing without compromising bond strength.
Kerr's offering in this category is the Kerr Maxcem Elite Chroma Universal Self-Etch Resin Cement, which uses a colour-shift technology to indicate the optimal clean-up window — a small feature that meaningfully reduces the risk of leaving cement embedded interproximally. The Maxcem Elite Universal Resin Cement remains a popular workhorse for practices with high crown volume.
Pro Tip: When the restoration is fully retentive (an ideal-prep crown, for example), self-adhesive resin cement is almost always the right choice. Reserve the more technique-sensitive adhesive resin systems for cases where retention is compromised or aesthetics are critical.
Dual-Cure Adhesive Resin Cements for Anterior Cases
For anterior aesthetic restorations — veneers, all-ceramic crowns on prepared teeth with limited retention, and translucent lithium disilicate — adhesive resin cements paired with a dedicated bonding system deliver bond strengths and aesthetics that self-adhesive cements cannot match. These cements typically require a separate etch, prime, and bond step, but the additional time pays off in long-term retention and marginal aesthetics.
The NX3 Automix DC Syringe is a long-trusted dual-cure resin cement well suited to anterior cementations. For practices using Kuraray's adhesive ecosystem, the Kuraray PANAVIA SA Cement Plus Luting Multi Automix bridges self-adhesive convenience with PANAVIA's well-known bond strength to zirconia and metal substrates. The Kuraray PANAVIA F 2.0 Paste B Light Refill is a useful component refill for established PANAVIA F users.
Pairing Adhesive Cements with the Right Bonding Agent
An adhesive resin cement is only as good as the bonding system paired with it. EBIKO carries the Clearfil SE Bond Kit for predictable self-etch bonding, the Kerr OptiBond FL Two-Bottle Etch-and-Rinse Bonding Agent for cases that benefit from total-etch protocols, and the Kerr OptiBond Universal Bonding Agent for practices that prefer a single universal adhesive across both restorative and indirect workflows.
Glass Ionomer and Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer Luting Cements
Glass ionomer cements have not disappeared — they have specialized. For metal-based crowns, post-and-core retention, and orthodontic band cementation, glass ionomers continue to offer reliable bond strengths, fluoride release, and a forgiving moisture tolerance that resin cements lack. The 3M Ketac Cem Glass Ionomer Luting Cement remains a clinical reference standard for traditional glass ionomer cementation.
For carboxylate cementation — useful in cases of pulpal sensitivity where biocompatibility is paramount — EBIKO carries both the 3M Durelon Carboxylate Luting Cement Liquid and the 3M Durelon Carboxylate Luting Cement Powder Refill.
For practices that prefer the convenience of a resin-modified glass ionomer, the 3M RelyX Luting Cement and the RelyX Luting Plus Automix Value Pack deliver fluoride release and easier cleanup than traditional glass ionomers. The 3M ESPE RelyX Luting Plus Cement Clicker Dispenser Trial Kit is a good entry option for practices new to the chemistry.
Temporary Cements for Provisional Restorations
Temporary cements are the unglamorous but daily workhorses of the operatory. The choice between eugenol and non-eugenol matters more than most clinicians remember. Eugenol cements should not be used when the final restoration will be cemented with resin — eugenol residue interferes with resin polymerization. Non-eugenol cements are the safer default for most modern indirect restorative workflows.
EBIKO carries an unusually deep selection of temporary cements. For non-eugenol options, consider the Kerr TempBond NE Non-Eugenol Temporary Cement Unidose Capsules, the Kerr TempBond NE Automix Syringe for higher-volume practices, the 3M RelyX Temp NE Temporary Cement, and the TempBond NE Tube Kit for the traditional base-and-accelerator format.
For aesthetic anterior provisionals where translucency matters, the TempBond Clear Automix Temporary Cement offers a translucent option with antimicrobial benefit. Where eugenol is appropriate, the Temp-Bond Original Eugenol Temporary Cement and the Kerr TempBond Zinc Oxide Eugenol Temporary Cement Unidose Capsules remain dependable choices.
Implant-Specific Cementation
Cementing onto an implant abutment is not the same as cementing onto a natural tooth. Excess cement that escapes the crown margin can drive peri-implantitis if it migrates into the peri-implant sulcus. Implant-specific cements are designed for easier cleanup and lower retention forces. The Premier Implant Cement Value Pack is a category mainstay in EBIKO's catalogue for practices placing implant-supported restorations.
Pro Tip: Even with implant-specific cement, use a vented try-in or an off-mouth cementation technique whenever practical. The 90 seconds of extra time has saved more peri-implant bone than any maintenance protocol.
Inventory Tips for a Canadian Practice
Cements are expensive consumables, and they expire. A few inventory practices that pay off:
- Match volume to chair count: A two-chair practice does not need three brands of self-adhesive resin cement
- Watch the clicker dispensers: Clicker-style dispensers often appear cheap per gram but waste material if used for low-volume cements
- Check the manufacture date, not just the expiry: A cement that arrives with 8 months of shelf life left will likely expire on your shelf
- Standardize the bonding system: If your hygiene team can recite the bonding protocol from memory, you have the right number of bonding agents in stock
EBIKO Dental Shipping and Pricing for Cements
EBIKO Dental ships cements and luting agents across Canada with free shipping on orders over $99 CAD in the GTA, $199 CAD across Ontario, and $299 CAD across Canada. Our price match guarantee applies to every cement in the catalogue — if a Canadian dental supplier offers a lower price on the same product, we'll match it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a self-adhesive resin cement and an adhesive resin cement?
A self-adhesive resin cement bonds chemically to the tooth substrate without a separate etch and bond step, which simplifies the protocol and reduces chair time. An adhesive resin cement requires a dedicated bonding system but typically delivers higher bond strengths and is preferred for veneers, anterior aesthetic crowns, and cases with limited mechanical retention.
Q: Can I use eugenol-containing temporary cement before cementing the final crown with resin?
No. Eugenol residue interferes with resin polymerization and reduces final bond strength. If the final cementation will use a resin-based cement, choose a non-eugenol temporary cement throughout the provisional phase.
Q: How many cement products does an Ontario dental practice actually need to stock?
Most general practices function well with one self-adhesive resin cement, one dual-cure adhesive resin cement, one resin-modified glass ionomer, one non-eugenol temporary cement, and one implant cement. Practices placing significant volumes of metal-ceramic crowns or orthodontic bands may add a traditional glass ionomer to that list.
Shop dental cements and luting agents at EBIKO Dental and stock your operatory with the chemistry that actually fits the case in front of you.