Bioactive Glass: A Material for the Future

Abstract

Bioactive glasses are novel dental materials that are different from conventional glasses and are used in dentistry. Bioactive glasses are composed of calcium and phosphate which are present in a proportion that is similar to the bone hydroxyapatite. These glasses bond to the tissue and are biocompatible. They have a wide range of medical and dental applications and are currently used as bone grafts, scaffolds and coating material for dental implants. This article reviews various properties of bioactive glasses and their applications and also reviews the changes that can be made in their composition according to a desired application.