The application of nanohybrid silica from rice husk as fillers for dental composites has been explored. Spherical nanohybrid silica with morphology ideal for use as fillers in dental composites having a low specific surface area of 30 m(2)/g was extracted from rice husk by a simple precipitation method using non-toxic chemicals. Experimental dental composites with two different filler/matrix ratios (Composite A: 40/60 and Composite B: 50/50) were fabricated, followed by their mechanical properties and surface roughness testing. Dental composite B showed a flexural strength of 107 MPa, flexural modulus of 6.2 GPa, compressive strength of 191 MPa, Vickers' hardness of 39 HV1 and surface roughness of 0.057 Ra. The results indicate that rice husk is an inexpensive source of silica for as fillers in nanohybrid dental composites. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.