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 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.

One aspect of the invention includes a glass powder for a chemical polymerization initiator, the glass powder including aluminum, silicon, and at least one of copper or vanadium.

The present invention relates to a glass ceramic material comprising a core-rim structure, wherein the core-rim structure comprises an amorphous SiO.sub.2 matrix, ZrO.sub.2 crystals, and hardness-enhancing additive, the ZrO.sub.2 crystals are present in cores that are at least partly surrounded by a rim comprising hardness-enhancing additive.

Lithium silicate glass ceramics and precursors thereof are described, which comprise copper and are characterized by very good mechanical and optical properties and can be used in particular as restorative materials in dentistry.

Lithium silicate glass ceramics and precursors thereof are described, which contain tin and are characterized by very good mechanical and optical properties and can be used in particular as restorative materials in dentistry.

A bioactive glass-ceramic composition as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the disclosed compositions.

A process for producing a glazed ceramic body, in which a glazing material is applied to a non-densely sintered substrate material and the substrate material and the glazing material are subjected to a heat treatment in order to obtain the glazed body.

Lithium disilicate apatite glass-ceramics are described which are characterized by a high chemical stability and can therefore be used in particular as restoration material in dentistry.

The invention relates to the use of lithium silicate glass ceramics and glasses with caesium oxide content, which are suitable in particular for veneering oxide ceramic restorations and metal restorations.