Adhesive Cement for Maximum Retention — NDEB AFK MCQ

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ModerateRestorative DentistryAdhesive Cement for Maximum RetentionNDEB AFK

Which type of dental cement is used for permanent cementation of a cast metal crown when maximum retention is needed and the prepared tooth has short clinical crown height?

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Correct answer: C — Adhesive resin cement with total-etch bonding

When maximum retention is needed (short clinical crown, excessive taper, smooth preparation walls), adhesive resin cement with total-etch bonding provides the highest retentive values by creating micromechanical and chemical bonding to both the tooth surface and the restoration intaglio surface (sandblasted or tin-plated for metal). Conventional cements (zinc phosphate, GIC, polycarboxylate) rely on friction fit and micromechanical retention at the tooth-cement interface, providing lower retentive values. Adhesive cementation can compensate for suboptimal preparation geometry.

Reference: Shillingburg – Fundamentals of Fixed Prosthodontics, 4th ed., 2012