Abstract : 

The term “bioactivity” is frequently used in the field of oral health, yet its definition varies significantly depending on context. Bioactivity refers to the ability to induce a biological effect on living organisms, tissues, or cells. However, a key question arises: Is eliciting a biological response a necessary criterion for a material to be considered bioactive? Furthermore, how should we define a biological response?
Initially, attention focused on materials that could form an apatite-like mineral in environments such as simulated body fluid. In the literature, bioactive materials are often described in a variety of contexts, such as promoting bone or tooth mineralization, stimulating the recruitment and differentiation of cells, or exerting effects like antimicrobial activity, pH buffering capacity, or biofilm modulation. However, it remains unclear whether these effects truly represent bioactivity, or if they are a mere result of chemical interactions.
In the dental materials community, there are many manufacturers that claim their products posses bioactive potential, but the evidence is contrasting.

Learning objectives : 

• Describe the etiology of dental caries and secondary caries risk
• Review the principles behind the 'repetitive restorative cycle'
• Analyse the concept of 'bioactive materials' and determine if there is supporting evidence
• Compare and contrast the chemical elements available in some restorative materials and their potential interactions with the dental structure or biofilms.

Event website : https://www.ccdh.hn/