Lithium silicate-diopside glass ceramics are described which are characterized by a controllable translucence and can be satisfactorily processed mechanically and therefore can be used in particular as restoration material in dentistry.

The present invention provides compositions of bioactive dental materials that form a mineral apatite bond between the dental material and tooth structure for increasing bond strength and longevity. Also disclosed are methods for using said compositions in treating teeth.

A process for the preparation of multi-coloured dental restorations is described, in which glasses and glass ceramics with various compositions are given the shapes of dental restorations and colour changes are effected in the glasses and glass ceramics by irradiating them with artificial electromagnetic radiation and subjecting them to a heat treatment.

A process for the preparation of multi-coloured dental restorations is described, in which glasses and glass ceramics with various compositions are given the shapes of dental restorations and colour changes are effected in the glasses and glass ceramics by irradiating them with artificial electromagnetic radiation and subjecting them to a heat treatment.

The present invention relates to a glass ceramic for veneering a dental frame structure, wherein said glass ceramic is characterized by a high content of B.sub.2O.sub.3, to a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof in the production of dental restorations.

Provided is a dental bulk block comprising a crystalline phase includes lithium disilicate as a main crystalline phase and eucryptite as a sub-crystalline phase in an amorphous glass matrix that is a functionally graded material having a main crystalline size gradient with respect to the depth thereof, and having no interface at the point of change in the main crystalline size gradient value, and is useful for manufacturing artificial teeth having structural characteristics similar to those of natural teeth, is facile to machine into an artificial tooth prosthesis due to the inclusion of eucryptite as the sub-crystalline phase compared to when only lithium disilicate exists, and can not only shorten the manufacturing time, but also increase the structural stability in terms of force distribution through functional grading of mechanical properties.

Provided is a dental bulk block comprising a crystalline phase includes lithium disilicate as a main crystalline phase and eucryptite as a sub-crystalline phase in an amorphous glass matrix that is a functionally graded material having a main crystalline size gradient with respect to the depth thereof, and having no interface at the point of change in the main crystalline size gradient value, and is useful for manufacturing artificial teeth having structural characteristics similar to those of natural teeth, is facile to machine into an artificial tooth prosthesis due to the inclusion of eucryptite as the sub-crystalline phase compared to when only lithium disilicate exists, and can not only shorten the manufacturing time, but also increase the structural stability in terms of force distribution through functional grading of mechanical properties.

The invention relates to a dental opaquer composition which can be used to increase the opacity of zirconium oxide ceramics. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing a dental restoration, in which the opacity of the zirconium oxide ceramic is increased by using the opaquer composition.

The invention relates to a dental opaquer composition which can be used to increase the opacity of zirconium oxide ceramics. In addition, the invention relates to a process for producing a dental restoration, in which the opacity of the zirconium oxide ceramic is increased by using the opaquer composition.

ZrO.sub.2-toughened glass ceramics having high molar fractions of tetragonal ZrO.sub.2 and fracture toughness value of greater than 1.8 MPa.Math.m.sup.1/2. The glass ceramic may also include also contain other secondary phases, including lithium silicates, that may be beneficial for toughening or for strengthening through an ion exchange process. Additional second phases may also decrease the coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass ceramic. A method of making such glass ceramics is also provided.