Provided herein are novel compositions for the restoration of demineralized tissues, such as dentin which has been demineralized by tooth decay. The remineralization agent comprises a bioactive ceramic component and a polyanionic macromolecular component, which may be admixed and applied to the target tissue and which will subsequently set to produce a remineralizing solid. The remineralizing solid will produce nanodroplets of mineral precursor solution, which such nanodroplets can infiltrate demineralized collagen matrices and which will form hydroxyapatite crystals therein by polymer-induced liquid precursor processes. The scope of the invention encompasses novel compositions and methods of treating demineralized tissues.

The invention relates to glass-ceramics based on the lithium silicate system which can be mechanically machined easily in an intermediate step of crystallization and, after complete crystallization, represent a very strong, highly-translucent and chemically-stable glass-ceramic. Likewise, the invention relates to a method for the production of these glass-ceramics. The glass-ceramics according to the invention are used as dental material.

Pre-sintered blanks based on lithium metasilicate glass ceramic are described which are suitable in particular for the preparation of dental restorations.

The invention relates to a lithium silicate glass ceramic which contains lithium silicate as main crystal phase and scheelite and/or powellite as further crystal phases. The invention also relates to a corresponding starting glass, a starting glass with nuclei, a process for producing the glass ceramic and the starting glasses as well as the use thereof.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a lithium silicate glass or a lithium silicate glass ceramic which comprise cerium ions and are suitable in particular for the preparation of dental restorations, the fluorescence properties of which largely correspond to those of natural teeth.

The invention also relates to a lithium silicate glass and a lithium silicate glass ceramic which can be obtained using the method according to the invention, the use thereof as dental material and in particular for the preparation of dental restorations, as well as a glass-forming composition which is suitable for use in the method according to the invention.

Provided is a dental investment that is a dental phosphate-bonded investment including boron nitride at 0.1% to 5% by weight.

A method for producing a dental prosthesis based on lithium silicate glass or lithium silicate glass-ceramic, including the steps of: melting a powder mixture containing at least SiO.sub.2, Li.sub.2O, Al.sub.2O.sub.3; producing spherical, lens-shaped or rod-shaped glass particles solidified from the melt; portioning the glass particles and filling them into a crucible; melting the glass particles in the crucible and setting a viscosity v, wherein 4 dPa.Math.sv80 dPa.Math.s; casting the thus produced melt into a negative mold which is enclosed by an embedding compound and corresponds to the dental prosthesis and; solidifying the melt in the negative mold, and crystallizing lithium metasilicate and/or lithium disilicate from the solidified melt.

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a lithium silicate glass or a lithium silicate glass ceramic which comprise cerium ions and are suitable in particular for the preparation of dental restorations, the fluorescence properties of which largely correspond to those of natural teeth. The invention also relates to a lithium silicate glass and a lithium silicate glass ceramic which can be obtained using the method according to the invention, the use thereof as dental material and in particular for the preparation of dental restorations, as well as a glass-forming composition which is suitable for use in the method according to the invention.

Dental prosthetic restoration coatings made of dielectric materials, methods of fabricating the same, as well as methods of testing dental prosthetic restorations are provided. A prosthetic restoration coating can include dielectric materials such as Al.sub.2O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, SiNx, SiC, and SiO.sub.2. Application can take place using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) methods, and alternating materials can be used to achieve desired anticorrosive, structural integrity, hardness, adhesion, and color characteristics. A testing method can include immersing a test device in solutions of differing pH, with or without abrasive steps. The cycling can include an acidic solution and a basic solution, with an optional neutral solution. As the abrasive step, a chewing simulator can be utilized.

A palladium-based alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of about 12.0 to about 13.0 and having one or more of the following additive metals: platinum, gallium, molybdenum, tin, silicon, ruthenium, rhenium, indium, tungsten, niobium, boron and lithium.