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A dental material comprising a hardenable resin and silica particles dispersed within the hardenable resin, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm and are present in an amount greater than about 40 wt % of the weight of the dental material. The dental materia

A dental material comprising a hardenable resin and silica particles dispersed within the hardenable resin, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm and are present in an amount greater than about 40 wt % of the weight of the dental material. The dental material may further comprise a heavy metal oxide. The dental material can be used as dental adhesives, artificial crowns, anterior or posterior fillings, casting materials, cavity liners, cements, coating compositions, mill blanks, orthodontic devices, restoratives, prostheses, and sealants.

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1. A filler in a dry powder form comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm.2. The filler of claim 1 wherein the silica particles are capable of being dispersed in a medium to

1. A filler in a dry powder form comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm.2. The filler of claim 1 wherein the silica particles are capable of being dispersed in a medium to form a dispersion of non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles.3. A method of preparing a filler in a dry powder form comprising drying a volatile liquid dispersion of non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm.4. The method of claim 3 wherein the drying comprises spray drying the dispersion.5. The method of claim 3 wherein the dispersion of silica particles comprises non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles.6. The method of claim 3 wherein the volatile liquid comprises water.7. The method of claim 6 wherein the volatile liquid further comprises a cosolvent.8. The method of claim 7 wherein the cosolvent comprises an alcohol.9. The method of claim 3 further comprising treating the surface of non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm and dispersed in a volatile liquid with a silane to form a volatile liquid dispersion of non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface.10. A filler in a dry powder form prepared by a method comprising drying a volatile liquid dispersion of non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm.11. A method of preparing a composition comprising dispersing in a hardenable resin a filler in a dry powder form, the filler comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface, wherein the silica particles have an average diameter of less than about 200 nm.12. The method of claim 11 wherein dispersing forms a dispersion of non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles in the resin.13. The method of claim 11 further comprising dispersing fumed silica in the hardenable resin.14. A method of preparing a composition comprising dispersing in a hardenable resin a filler in a dry powder form, the filler comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface and having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm to form a dispersion in the hardenable resin of non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm, wherein the composition comprises at least about 40% by weight non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles.15. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition comprises at least about 50% by weight non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles.16. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition, after hardening, has a visual opacity value of no greater than about 0.4.17. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition, after hardening, has a visual opacity value of no greater than about 0.35.18. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition, after hardening, has a visual opacity value of no greater than about 0.25.19. The method of claim 14 wherein the hardenable resin is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, epoxies, and mixtures thereof.20. The method of claim 14 further comprising adding an initiator to the hardenable resin.21. The method of claim 14 further comprising dispersing a heavy metal oxide in the hardenable resin.22. The method of claim 21 wherein the heavy metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, tin oxide, yttrium oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, lanthanum oxide, zinc oxide, ytterbium oxide, bismuth oxide and mixtures thereof.23. The method of claim 21 wherein the heavy metal oxide is a cubic or tetragonal zirconium oxide.24. The method of claim 14 wherein the composition forms a material selected from the group consisting of dental restoratives, dental adhesives, casting materials, dental cements, dental sealants, and dental coatings.25. A method of preparing a dental article comprising:dispersing in a hardenable resin a filler in a dry powder form, the filler comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface and having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm to form a composition comprising a dispersion in the hardenable resin of non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm, wherein the composition comprises at least about 40% by weight non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles; and hardening the composition to fabricate a dental article selected from the group consisting of dental mill blanks, dental prostheses, orthodontic devices, artificial crowns, anterior fillings, posterior fillings, and cavity liners. 26. The method of claim 25 further comprising changing the topography of the composition before hardening the composition.27. A method of preparing a composition comprising:dispersing in a hardenable resin a filler in a dry powder form, the filler comprising non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having a silane treated surface and having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm to form a dispersion in the hardenable resin of non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles having an average diameter of less than about 200 nm; and dispersing fumed silica in the hardenable resin, wherein the composition, after hardening, has a visual opacity value of no greater than about 0.4.28. The method of claim 27 wherein the composition comprises at least about 40% by weight non-agglomerated, non-aggregated, non-fumed silica particles.