Cementation

Cementation is a process in which ions in an aqueous solution are reduced to zero valence by a reducing agent. This process is commonly used in metallurgy to extract metals from their ores and in the field of dentistry for the attachment of dental restorations.

Metallurgical Cementation

In metallurgy, cementation is a method of purifying metals by converting them into a more stable form. This is typically achieved by placing a less noble metal in a solution containing ions of a more noble metal. The less noble metal acts as a reducing agent, causing the more noble metal to precipitate out of the solution.

Historical Context

The process of cementation has been used since ancient times. One of the earliest known uses was in the production of copper from its ores. The Romans used cementation to produce brass by reacting copper with zinc ores.

Modern Applications

Today, cementation is used in the extraction of metals such as gold, silver, and copper. For example, in the Merrill-Crowe process, zinc dust is used to precipitate gold from a cyanide solution.

Dental Cementation

In dentistry, cementation refers to the process of attaching a dental restoration, such as a crown or bridge, to a natural tooth or dental implant using a dental cement.

Types of Dental Cements

There are various types of dental cements used for different purposes, including:

• Glass ionomer cement
• Resin cement
• Zinc phosphate cement
• Polycarboxylate cement

Procedure

The procedure typically involves cleaning the tooth, applying the cement, and then placing the restoration. The cement hardens to form a strong bond between the tooth and the restoration.

Related Pages

• Metallurgy
• Dentistry
• Crown (dentistry)
• Bridge (dentistry)
• Glass ionomer cement
• Resin cement
• Zinc phosphate cement
• Polycarboxylate cement
• Merrill-Crowe process
• Copper
• Gold
• Silver
• Brass