sementoitua

Sementoitua is a Finnish verb meaning to become cemented or to undergo cementation. It is derived from the noun sementti (cement) with the suffix -oitua, which marks a passive or reflexive process. The term is used primarily in technical contexts, including geology, materials science, and dentistry, to describe a process in which surfaces, grains, or materials are bound together by a cementing agent or by hardening.

In geology, sementoitua describes diagenetic cementation, where mineral-rich fluids precipitate cementing minerals such as silica or calcite at the contacts between sediment grains. This process reduces porosity and helps bind particles into a more cohesive rock, commonly contributing to the formation of sandstone, limestone, or similar lithologies.

In dentistry and dental technology, sementoitua refers to the cementing of restorations to tooth structure, for example when a crown, veneer, or bridge is fixed using luting cement, resin cements, or glass-ionomer cements. The term emphasizes the transition from a loose restoration to a secured, integrated state within the oral environment.

Related Finnish terms include sementti (cement), sementointi (cementation), and the noun forms sementoituminen and sementoitus. The concept also appears in discussions of diagenesis and materials science, where binding and setting processes are central.