# Calcium Silicate

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/calcium-silicate
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-03-25
**Evidence Score:** 2 / 10
**Category:** Mineral
**Also Known As:** Ca₂SiO₄, Dicalcium silicate, Bioceramic cement, Calcium orthosilicate, CAS, Bioactive silicate, Synthetic calcium silicate hydrate

## Overview

Calcium silicate is an inorganic mineral compound composed of calcium and silicon dioxide that acts as a bioactive material by releasing calcium and silicate ions to stimulate hydroxyapatite formation and hard tissue mineralization. Its primary mechanism involves activating dentinal bridge formation and supporting cellular regeneration in dental and bone tissue applications.

## Health Benefits

• Dental pulp preservation: 76.6-97.1% success rates in pulpotomy procedures for primary and permanent teeth (moderate GRADE certainty, meta-analysis of 14 RCTs)
• Root canal treatment success: 84-90% success rate at 1-year follow-up when used as endodontic sealer (non-randomized trial)
• Enhanced tissue healing: Promotes faster healing and reduced [inflammation](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) in dental applications through biocompatibility and mineralization stimulation
• Antibacterial properties: Demonstrates [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) activity for up to 7 days post-application in dental procedures
• Cardiac protection potential: Silicate ions from calcium silicate extract reduced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in mouse models (preliminary evidence)

## Mechanism of Action

Calcium silicate releases Ca²⁺ and SiO₄⁴⁻ ions upon contact with physiological fluids, raising local pH to 12–12.5, which precipitates calcium hydroxide and triggers hydroxyapatite nucleation on the material surface. The silicate ions upregulate osteocalcin and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), stimulating odontoblast and osteoblast differentiation for tertiary dentin and bone matrix synthesis. Additionally, the alkaline microenvironment created by calcium ion release exhibits antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, contributing to its effectiveness as an endodontic sealer.

## Clinical Summary

A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials (moderate GRADE certainty) demonstrated 76.6–97.1% success rates for calcium silicate-based cements in pulpotomy procedures for both primary and permanent teeth. A non-randomized clinical trial reported 84–90% root canal treatment success at 1-year follow-up when calcium silicate was used as an endodontic sealer, comparable to established benchmarks. Evidence for systemic supplementation applications remains limited, with most robust data concentrated in dental and orthopedic biomaterial research rather than oral supplement trials. Overall, the evidence base is strongest for dental clinical applications and weaker for broader systemic health claims.

## Nutritional Profile

Calcium silicate (CaSiO₃) is an inorganic mineral compound, not a nutritional substance. It is primarily used as an industrial and biomedical material rather than a dietary source of nutrients. Key compositional details: • Calcium content: approximately 34.5% by molecular weight (Ca from CaSiO₃, MW ~116.16 g/mol), however this calcium is largely biologically unavailable for nutritional absorption when ingested as the intact mineral. • Silicon content: approximately 24.2% by weight as elemental silicon (present as silicate SiO₃²⁻); orthosilicic acid release from calcium silicate in aqueous/physiological environments is minimal and poorly characterized for dietary bioavailability. • No macronutrients (zero protein, fat, carbohydrates, or fiber). • No vitamins or organic bioactive compounds. • Food-grade calcium silicate (E552) is used as an anti-caking agent in powdered foods at concentrations typically ≤2% by weight (FDA 21 CFR 172.410); at these trace levels it contributes negligible nutritional calcium (<5 mg Ca per typical serving). • Bioavailability notes: Calcium silicate is practically insoluble in water (solubility ~0.01 g/100 mL at 25°C), resulting in extremely poor gastrointestinal absorption of both calcium and silicon ions. The calcium is not ionically dissociated under gastric pH conditions to any nutritionally meaningful degree, making it vastly inferior to dietary calcium sources such as calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. • In biomedical/dental applications (e.g., mineral trioxide aggregate, Biodentine), calcium silicate releases Ca²⁺ and OH⁻ ions in situ, creating a localized alkaline environment (pH ~12.5) that promotes hydroxyapatite formation and biomineralization — this is a therapeutic property, not a nutritional one. • The EFSA and FDA classify food-grade calcium silicate as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) with an acceptable daily intake not specified due to its inert nature and negligible absorption. • Trace impurities may include aluminum, iron, and magnesium oxides depending on source (natural wollastonite vs. synthetic), but these are not present in nutritionally relevant quantities.

## Dosage & Preparation

Calcium silicate is applied topically in dental procedures as premixed cements or powders containing 27-50% calcium silicate, with amounts determined by the specific procedure (sufficient to cover pulp or fill root canal). No systemic oral dosages have been studied as this is exclusively used as a dental biomaterial. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

Calcium silicate is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA as a food additive and anti-caking agent used in table salt and powdered foods at concentrations up to 2%. High systemic calcium intake from calcium silicate supplements may interact with tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, and bisphosphonates by chelating these drugs and reducing their bioavailability, so co-administration should be separated by at least 2 hours. Individuals with hypercalcemia, kidney stones, or severe renal impairment should exercise caution, as excess calcium supplementation can exacerbate these conditions. Safety data during pregnancy and lactation for supplemental calcium silicate specifically is insufficient; standard calcium supplementation guidelines (1,000–1,300 mg/day total calcium) should be followed under medical supervision.

## Scientific Research

A 2025 meta-analysis of 14 RCTs (PMID: 41091272) found calcium silicate-based materials achieved high success rates in dental pulpotomies with no significant differences versus comparators like MTA. A 2023 RCT (PMID: 37660882) involving 153 primary molars demonstrated non-inferiority of calcium silicate formulations to traditional MTA, while a multicenter RCT (PMID: 40653154) compared calcium silicate sealers versus resin sealers for postoperative outcomes.

## Historical & Cultural Context

Calcium silicate has no traditional medicine history or ethnomedicinal use. It is a modern bioceramic material specifically developed for contemporary dentistry and endodontic procedures, representing an advancement in synthetic biomaterials rather than a historically used substance.

## Synergistic Combinations

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), bioactive glass, hydroxyapatite, calcium hydroxide

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is calcium silicate used for in dentistry?

Calcium silicate is used as a pulp-capping and pulpotomy cement, leveraging its ability to release Ca²⁺ ions that induce dentinal bridge formation with up to 97.1% clinical success rates in meta-analyzed RCT data. It is also used as an endodontic root canal sealer, where its alkaline pH inhibits bacterial growth while promoting periapical tissue healing.

### Is calcium silicate safe to consume as a food additive?

Yes, the FDA classifies calcium silicate as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) for use as an anti-caking agent in foods like table salt at concentrations not exceeding 2% by weight. Toxicological studies have not identified significant adverse effects at these exposure levels, though concentrated supplemental doses have not been as extensively studied in long-term human trials.

### How does calcium silicate differ from calcium carbonate or calcium citrate?

Calcium silicate contains silicon dioxide alongside calcium, providing both calcium and bioactive silicate ions that stimulate hydroxyapatite formation—a mechanism not present in calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Calcium carbonate contains approximately 40% elemental calcium and requires stomach acid for absorption, while calcium citrate (~21% elemental calcium) is absorbed without acid; calcium silicate's elemental calcium content and bioavailability as an oral supplement are less characterized in comparative human studies.

### Can calcium silicate supplements interfere with medications?

Calcium silicate can chelate tetracycline antibiotics, fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin), and bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate) in the gastrointestinal tract, forming insoluble complexes that reduce drug absorption by up to 50%. To avoid this interaction, calcium-containing supplements should be taken at least 2 hours before or 4–6 hours after these medications.

### Does calcium silicate help with bone health or osteoporosis?

In vitro and animal studies show that silicate ions released from calcium silicate upregulate BMP-2 and osteocalcin expression, promoting osteoblast differentiation and bone matrix mineralization. However, robust human clinical trials specifically evaluating calcium silicate supplementation for osteoporosis prevention or treatment are lacking, and current bone health guidelines are based on calcium carbonate and calcium citrate research rather than calcium silicate specifically.

### What does clinical research show about calcium silicate's effectiveness in dental procedures?

Clinical evidence demonstrates calcium silicate's strong performance in dental applications, with pulpotomy success rates ranging from 76.6-97.1% across 14 randomized controlled trials and root canal treatment success rates of 84-90% at one-year follow-up. Meta-analyses support its use as an endodontic sealer due to biocompatibility and tissue-promoting properties. The moderate to high certainty of this evidence makes it one of the most well-researched applications for this mineral form.

### How does calcium silicate promote healing in dental treatments compared to other endodontic materials?

Calcium silicate stimulates faster tissue healing and reduces inflammation through bioactive mechanisms that encourage dentin formation and periapical tissue regeneration. Unlike traditional materials, it releases bioactive ions that support remineralization and create an alkaline environment favorable for healing. These properties make it particularly effective for pulpal preservation in both primary and permanent teeth.

### Is calcium silicate suitable for use in pediatric dental treatments?

Yes, calcium silicate is widely used in pediatric dentistry, particularly for primary tooth pulpotomies where clinical success rates exceed 76% in child patients. Its biocompatibility and ability to promote tissue healing make it a preferred choice for preserving primary teeth before natural shedding. However, application should be performed by qualified dental professionals following appropriate clinical protocols.

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*Source: Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia — https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com*
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