An overview of the chronological development of luting agents starting around 1880 until today. The last 30–40 years have witnessed the development of new cement systems and a large number of cements have become available. It was not until 2009 that a paradigm shift took place and a hybrid acid-base reaction cement was introduced, which offered physical and other properties that not only differed from the polymer-based luting agents but also matched them. +1880—zinc phosphate cement, +1940—silicate cement*, 1972—polycarboxylate cement, +1975—composite resin cements, 1976—glass ionomer cement, 1986—resin cement, +1995—resin-modified glass ionomer cement, +2004—self-etching (adhesive) resin cements, 2009—hybrid-acid-base reaction cement, (*the designation silicate cement is a misnomer as it was a restorative material for Cl III and Cl V restorations).
