The currently used commercial restorative composites contain a mixture of various cross-linking dimethacrylates, glass- and/or silicon dioxide fillers, and a photoinitiator system. They are cured by irradiation with visible light. New developments of polymeric composites for restorative filling materials are mainly focused on the reduction of polymerization shrinkage, and improvement of biocompatibility, wear resistance and processing properties. This can be partially achieved by using new tailor-made monomers and optimized filler particles. This review describes the polymeric chemical aspects of the application of new monomers, e.g. cyclic monomers, liquid-crystalline monomers, ormocers, branched monomers, compomers or Bis-GMA analogues or substitutes for restorative composites. In addition, the contribution of new filler-technologies for the improvement of restorative composites is discussed.