AbstractA number of cements based upon polymeric systems are being utilized in both medical and dental fields. The polymethyl methacrylate rapid polymerizing monomerpolymer materials have undergone extensive development as dental materials and are used widely also for rentention of orthopedic prostheses. The cyanocrylates and the newly developed zinc polycarboxylate cements are being used for a variety of dental applications. These latter materials display adhesion to soft tissue and calcified tissue, respectively, and the investigation of adhesion to these substrates compared with the mechanical retention of the methacrylate materials is of considerable interest.The polycarboxylate cements have unusual properties including minimal tissue irritation and relatively high strength. The ability to vary their formulation and manipulative properties has permitted their trial in a variety of clinical applications including cementation of stainless steel orthodontic brackets to teeth.