Bioactive Glass Materials in Dental Applications

Bioactive glass materials have emerged as versatile agents in dentistry, combining tailored compositions of silica, calcium, phosphate and other network modifiers to interact favourably with oral tissues. Upon exposure to physiological fluids, these glasses undergo controlled ion exchange, leading to the rapid formation of a bone-like apatite layer that bonds to enamel, dentine and bone substrates. In dental contexts, they serve in restorative fillings, cements, adhesives and desensitising formulations. Key advantages include promotion of remineralisation, neutralisation of local acidity, reduction of hypersensitivity through tubule occlusion and potential antimicrobial action. Recent innovations focus on glass-ceramic hybrids, polymer composites and dopants such as fluoride, chloride and therapeutic ions to optimise bioactivity, mechanical resilience and sustained ion release for long-term oral health benefits.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated that controlled crystallisation of bioactive glasses into glass-ceramics can accelerate apatite precipitation. A series of glass-ceramics enriched in fluorapatite exhibited nano-channel networks at crystal–glass interfaces, promoting faster ion release and enhanced nucleation of surface apatite relative to their amorphous counterparts. This finding challenges the assumption that crystallisation invariably reduces bioactivity and offers new avenues for designing highly reactive dental coatings and fillers. In parallel, incorporation of 10 % bioactive glass powders into acrylic resin matrices has yielded polymer composites that meet dental strength standards while releasing calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions over weeks in acidic conditions. Such composites promise to deliver sustained remineralisation and pH buffering in removable prostheses and denture bases.

Bioactive Glass Materials in Dental Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive glass materials in dental applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Bioactive glass: silica-based material that interacts with biological tissues to form a bond via ion exchange and surface apatite layer formation.

Glass-ceramic: partially crystallised glass combining amorphous matrix and controlled crystalline phases for tailored ion release and mechanical strength.

Apatite: calcium phosphate mineral, typically hydroxycarbonate apatite, that constitutes the main inorganic component of tooth enamel and bone.

Ion release: leaching of calcium, phosphate, fluoride and other therapeutic ions from bioactive glass into surrounding fluids, driving mineralisation processes.

Remineralisation: restoration of mineral content in demineralised dental tissues through deposition of apatite on tooth surfaces.

References

1. Bioactive glass–ceramics containing fluorapatite, xonotlite, cuspidine and wollastonite form apatite faster than their corresponding glasses. Scientific Reports (2024).
2. Preparation and characterization of acrylic resins with bioactive glasses. Scientific Reports (2022).
3. A novel bioactive glass-ceramic for treating dentin hypersensitivity. Brazilian Oral Research (2010).
4. Acid Neutralizing Ability and Shear Bond Strength Using Orthodontic Adhesives Containing Three Different Types of Bioactive Glass. Materials (2016).
5. Development of a novel bioactive glass for air-abrasion to selectively remove orthodontic adhesives. Clinical Oral Investigations (2017).
6. New Insight into Mixing Fluoride and Chloride in Bioactive Silicate Glasses. Scientific Reports (2018).