Remineralizing Effect of “Chaco” Clay on Early Enamel Lesions: An in Vitro Study

Quispe-Venegas A.P.; Cervantes-Alagón S.L.; Tapia-Centellas Y.Y. · Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-24262-4_41

Resumen

Early enamel lesions represent a reversible stage of dental caries in which remineralization is essential for restoring mineral content without invasive intervention. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the remineralizing effect of 100% “Chaco” clay on artificially induced early enamel lesions. Thirty sound premolars were divided into three groups (n = 10 each): negative control (distilled water), positive control (CPP–ACPF, Mi Paste Plus®), and experimental group (“Chaco” clay). Demineralization was induced with 37% phosphoric acid for one minute, followed by daily remineralizing treatments for seven days. Remineralization was evaluated using the GRIMEP methylene blue colorimetric scale, which inversely reflects mineral gain. The “Chaco” clay group showed a marked improvement from a mean score of 3.95 after demineralization to 1.60 on day 7, representing a 59.5% reduction in colorimetric value, while the positive control improved by 59.4% (from 3.70 to 1.50). The negative control exhibited minimal change (0.25 to 0.50). Statistical analysis (ANOVA, p < 0.05) revealed significant differences among groups and over time. In conclusion, “Chaco” clay demonstrated a strong remineralizing effect comparable to CPP–ACPF, suggesting its potential as a natural, biocompatible, and low-cost alternative for preventive dentistry. Further in vivo research with longer treatment periods and different concentrations is recommended to validate its clinical applicability. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano