An antibacterial composition, includes: a silicate-based glass material having a composition of: 55-70 wt. % SiO.sub.2, 0-10 wt % B.sub.2O.sub.3, 3-18 wt. % P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-10 wt. % A1.sub.20.sub.3, 0-5 wt. % Li.sub.2O, 12-30 wt. % Na.sub.2O, 0-15 wt. % K.sub.2O, 0-10 wt. % MgO, 1-15 wt. % CaO, 2-20 wt. % MO, and 15-35 wt. % R.sub.2O, such that MO is the sum of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO, such that R.sub.2O is the sum of Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Li.sub.2O, and Rb.sub.2O, and such that the silicate-based glass material can achieve a 6-log kill rate of at least one of E. coli, P. gingivalis, or S. mutans bacteria.

Provided is a block body that makes it possible to quickly produce a dental prosthesis with a good accuracy. A material of the block body including SiO.sub.2 in an amount of 60.0 mass % to 80.0 mass %, Li.sub.2O in an amount of 10.0 mass % to 20.0 mass %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 in an amount of 5.1 mass % to 10.0 mass %, wherein the block body is formed in a column, and a main crystalline phase of the block body is lithium disilicate.

Glass ceramics having SiO.sub.2 as main crystal phase and precursors thereof are described which are characterized by very good mechanical and optical properties and in particular can be used as restoration material in dentistry.

A dental filling material or precursor thereof for use in therapy, which material comprises lithium and is capable of releasing lithium under physiological conditions.

Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools.

The present invention provides a dental product comprising a base material formed of a zirconia sintered body, and having high aesthetic quality with enhanced fracture toughness and with reduced chipping and cracking in the porcelain layer. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing such a dental product. The present invention relates to a dental product comprising: a base material formed of a zirconia sintered body, and a porcelain layer, wherein the porcelain of the porcelain layer has a suitable firing temperature of 900° C. or more, and the porcelain layer has a fracture toughness value of 1.20 MPa.Math.m.sup.0.5 or more.

Lithium silicate materials are described which can be easily processed by machining to dental products without undue wear of the tools.

The invention relates to a medical form body of lithium silicate glass ceramic. To increase its strength it is proposed that in the form body comprising lithium silicate glass or containing lithium silicate glass the lithium ions are replaced by alkali ions of greater diameter to generate a surface compressive stress. To this end the form body is covered with a melt containing an alkali metal for which an aliquoted quantity of salt containing the alkali metal is used.

Methods of making a bioactive glass fiber include forming a melt of a glass composition including: 50 to 70% SiO.sub.2; 0.1 to 10% Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 5 to 30% Na.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% K.sub.2O, 0.1 to 15% MgO, 0.1 to 20% CaO, and 5 to 10% P.sub.2O.sub.5, based on a 100 wt % of the glass composition. The melt has a viscosity of from 200 Poise to 2,000 Poise. Methods include drawing the melt into a drawn glass fiber. Bioactive glass compositions include: 60 to 70% SiO.sub.2; 15 to 30% Na.sub.2O, 5 to 15% K.sub.2O, 1 to 10% CaO, and 5 to 10% P.sub.2O.sub.5, based on a 100 wt % of the glass composition.

The present invention relates to a composition for the remineralization of teeth and to the use thereof. The composition comprises calcium phosphate (CaP) glass, and aqueous silica sol.