The influence of surface roughness on the retentive ability of two dental luting cements

Two series of brass cones and two series of dentine posts with varying surface roughness were produced. Maximum roughness value and arithmetical mean roughness were recorded for each cone. Brass crowns were cemented either with zinc phosphate cement (De Trey's zinc Cenment Improved) or with polycarboxylate cement (Durelon). A tensile stress was applied until the crown and the cone separated. The retentive force in relation to retention area was measured. The results showed that the retentive ability of both cements increased with increasing surface roughness. The increase in retention was greater for brass than for dentine. Differences were also found between the two cements; on smooth surfaces the zinc phosphate cement had a lower retentive ability than the polycarboxylate cement, but on rough surfaces the opposite relationship was observed.