Table 2.

Functional differences between biostable and bioactive dental materials

Type of dental material	Components	Function/activity
Biostable restoratives	Monomer + initiator system	Provides polymeric matrix
	Silanized glass/ceramic filler	Reinforces matrix phase, enhances modulus and strength
Bioactive composites	Glass ionomers/resin modified ionomers/compomers	Release of fluoride ions from fluoride-containing filler
	Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) composites	Release of calcium and phosphate ions from ACP filler phase