A laboratory investigation into cements used to retain orthodontic bands.

A laboratory study is presented where a technique of band retention testing is characterized. A glass polyalkenoate and a zinc phosphate cement were evaluated for band retention under simulated conditions of mechanical stress. In the absence of mechanical and other stresses there was no difference in the two cements for band retention. However, after mechanical stress was applied the glass polyalkenoate cement proved superior to the zinc polyalkenoate cement for band retention (P < 0.05). Weibull analysis is presented and described as a useful adjunct to statistical handling of band retention data.