Calcium silicate cement (CSC)

Calcium silicate cements (CSCs) are a class of hydraulic bioactive materials used extensively in restorative dentistry and endodontics for procedures such as pulp capping, apexification, and root-end filling (Prati & Gandolfi, 2015). The most well-known iteration is Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), which is primarily composed of tricalcium and dicalcium silicates that set effectively in moist environments (Parirokh & Torabinejad, 2010). Upon hydration, these cements release calcium hydroxide, creating a high-pH environment that exhibits potent antimicrobial properties and triggers the release of endogenous growth factors from the dentin matrix (Zhu et al., 2014). This process induces the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells and osteoblasts, facilitating the formation of reparative mineralized tissues like dentin and bone (Tawil et al., 2015). Unlike conventional dental restorative materials, CSCs are truly bioactive, forming a chemical bond with host tissues via a hydroxyapatite-like interface (Raghavendra et al., 2017). Although they are categorized as therapeutic biomaterials rather than biological targets, they play a critical role in regenerative dental therapies by modulating the local cellular environment to promote healing (Marciano et al., 2014).

Other names

Hydraulic calcium silicate cementMineral trioxide aggregateMTABioceramic endodontic cementPortland cement-based dental material

Calcium silicate cements undergo a hydration reaction that produces a calcium silicate hydrate gel and calcium hydroxide. The subsequent release of calcium ions and the establishment of a high-alkaline environment (pH ~12.5) promote the activation of alkaline phosphatase and stimulate mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells, which deposit a mineralized dentin bridge or hydroxyapatite-like layer (Prati & Gandolfi, 2015; Zhu et al., 2014).