Six commercial glass-ionomer cements commonly used for various dental applications have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The heat-flow behaviour and heat capacity of the cements were measured during isothermal (at 37 degrees C) setting reactions. The DSC results show that all materials undergo an exothermic setting process, but with different enthalpies of reactions and different heat capacities; there are no remaining endo- or exothermic reactions after the setting of the cement. All materials examined were found to be effective thermal insulators.