Abstract
Dental restorative materials due to their composition and structure relatively easily reacts in oral environment, subject to a chemical, electrochemical and biological degradation process. Effects vary from material discoloration and pigmentation, leading to cracks or fractures of fillings. Saliva as oral biotope is a continuous environment favouring these changes. In this saliva are dissolved chemicals coming from the external environment (food, beverages), which modifies the composition and the pH of the saliva, elements which are playing a main role inside the degradation processes, and in particular in electrochemical process. The intensity and its effects are heavily determined both by the composition, structure and quality of materials used and the composition and pH of saliva. Keywords: composite materials, restorative dentistry, artifcial saliva