Luting cements are a critical, but weak, link between fixed prostheses and their supporting tooth structures. Luting cements have relatively poor physical properties compared to bulk restorative filling materials, but they must fulfill an additional series of requirements such as low film thickness. As they have a wide variety of applications, no single material can be recommended for all clinical situations. This paper reviews the properties required of luting agents, the currently available material classes of luting agents and clinical cementation procedures, and makes suggestions for specific clinical situations.