Which types of cements can be light-cured?

Light-curable cements are a critical component in dental procedures, as they provide enhanced bonding capabilities and facilitate quicker setting times. The correct choice identifies that both composite resin and glass ionomer cements can be light-cured.

Composite resin cements are designed explicitly to be cured with a dental curing light, which activates the photoinitiators in the material, triggering a polymerization process that hardens the cement. This feature allows for precise placement and adjustment of restorations before the material sets.

Glass ionomer cements, traditionally known for their chemical bonding to tooth structure and releasing fluoride, have evolved. Some formulations of glass ionomer cement are now available in light-cure versions, combining the benefits of both glass ionomer chemistry and the rapid setting characteristic of light curing. This adaptation enhances their use in various clinical scenarios, especially in aesthetic applications.

The other options, while they may contain some truths about the properties of dental cements, do not fully encapsulate the broader range of cements that can be light-cured. Conventional glass ionomer, for instance, typically sets through an acid-base reaction rather than light activation, which does not apply to light-cured versions. Thus, the selection accurately reflects the capability of both composite resin and certain