The modification of a widely used dental ceramic by a bioactive glass via sol-gel method resulted in the fabrication of novel dental ceramic composites with bioactive behavior. The presence of leucite (Lt), apatite (Ap), various calcium silicate phases (CS) and a glassy aluminosilicate matrix were detected, while after sintering the predominance of wollastonite (W) among the other calcium silicate phases was observed, along with further crystallization of apatite. Concerning the bioactivity, the onset of the apatite formation was directly dependent on the bioactive glass amount, while a delay of the sintered specimens compared to the raw powders was also observed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.