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The present invention features ionomer compositions containing nanofillers that provide the composition with desirable aesthetic properties (e.g., optical translucency). The compositions can be used in a variety of dental and orthodontic applications, for example, as adhesives, cements, restoratives

The present invention features ionomer compositions containing nanofillers that provide the composition with desirable aesthetic properties (e.g., optical translucency). The compositions can be used in a variety of dental and orthodontic applications, for example, as adhesives, cements, restoratives, coatings and sealants.

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What is claimed is: 1. A hardenable dental composition comprising: (a) a polyacid; (b) an acid-reactive filler; (c) a nanofiller; (d) water; and (e) an optional polymerizable component; wherein the refractive index of a combined mixture of the polyacid, the nanofiller, the water, and the optional

What is claimed is: 1. A hardenable dental composition comprising: (a) a polyacid; (b) an acid-reactive filler; (c) a nanofiller; (d) water; and (e) an optional polymerizable component; wherein the refractive index of a combined mixture of the polyacid, the nanofiller, the water, and the optional polymerizable component is within 4 percent of the refractive index of the acid-reactive filler. 2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the combined mixture of the polyacid, the nanofiller, the water, and the optional polymerizable component is within 3 percent of the refractive index of the acid-reactive filler. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the combined mixture of the polyacid, the nanofiller, the water, and the optional polymerizable component is within 1 percent of the refractive index of the acid-reactive filler. 4. The composition of claim 1, comprising a polymerizable component. 5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the polymerizable component comprises an ethylenically unsaturated compound. 6. The composition of claim 4, wherein the polymerizable component comprises an ethylenically unsaturated compound with acid functionality. 7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyacid comprises a polymer having a plurality of acidic repeating groups but is substantially free of polymerizable groups. 8. The composition of claim 7 comprising a polymerizable component. 9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyacid comprises a polymer having a plurality of acidic repeating groups and a plurality of polymerizable groups. 10. The composition of claim 9 comprising a polymerizable component. 11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the acid-reactive filler is selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, glasses, metal salts, and combinations thereof. 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the acid-reactive filler comprises a fluoroaluminosilicate (FAS) glass. 13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the composition comprises less than 50 weight percent FAS glass. 14. The composition of claim 11, wherein the acid-reactive filler comprises an oxyfluoride material. 15. The composition of claim 14, wherein at least 90% by weight of the oxyfluoride material is nanostructured. 16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is acid reactive. 17. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is non-acid reactive. 18. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller has an average particle size of no more than about 50 nanometers. 19. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is present in an amount greater than 0.1 weight percent. 20. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is present in an amount greater than 5 weight percent. 21. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is present in an amount greater than 10 weight percent. 22. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller is present in an amount greater than 20 weight percent. 23. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller comprises particles selected from the group consisting of silica; zirconia; oxides of titanium, aluminum, cerium, tin, yttrium, strontium, barium, lanthanum, zinc, ytterbium, bismuth, iron, and antimony; and combinations thereof. 24. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller comprises a nanocluster. 25. The composition of claim 24, wherein the nanocluster contains reactive ions. 26. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the acid-reactive filler. 27. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller has a refractive index higher than 1.5. 28. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller has a refractive index higher than 2.0. 29. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nanofiller comprises an oxide of titanium having a chemically-treated surface. 30. The composition of claim 29, wherein the nanofiller comprises titanium dioxide having a silane-treated surface. 31. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition upon hardening has a visual opacity of no more than about 0.5. 32. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of fluoride sources, other fillers, pyrogenic fillers, whitening agents, anticaries agents, remineralizing agents, enzymes, breath fresheners, anesthetics, clotting agents, acid neutralizers, chemotherapeutic agents, immune response modifiers, medicaments, indicators, dyes, pigments, wetting agents, tartaric acid, chelating agents, surfactants, buffering agents, viscosity modifiers, thixotropes, polyols, antimicrobial agents, anti-inflammatory agents, antifungal agents, stabilizers, agents for treating xerostomia, desensitizers, and combinations thereof. 33. The composition of claim 4, wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of dental restoratives, dental adhesives, dental cements, cavity liners, orthodontic adhesives, dental sealants, and dental coatings. 34. The composition of claim 4, wherein the composition comprises a multi-part composition comprising a first part and a second part, wherein each part can independently be selected from the group consisting of a liquid, paste, gel, or powder. 35. The composition of claim 1, wherein the combined mixture is in an unhardened state. 36. The composition of claim 1, wherein the combined mixture is in a hardened state. 37. A method of preparing a dental article said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a dental composition of claim 1; and (b) hardening the dental composition to form the dental article. 38. The composition of claim 37, wherein the dental article is selected from the group consisting of dental mill blanks, dental crowns, dental fillings, dental prostheses, and orthodontic devices. 39. A multi-part hardenable dental composition comprising: (a) a first part comprising a polyacid; (b) a second part comprising an acid-reactive filler; (c) a nanofiller present in either or both parts; (d) water present in either or both parts; and (e) an optional polymerizable component present in either or both parts; wherein the refractive index of a combined mixture of the polyacid, the nanofiller, the water, and the optional polymerizable component is within 4 percent of the refractive index of the acid-reactive filler. 40. The composition of claim 39, wherein the first part comprises a paste. 41. The composition of claim 39, wherein the second part comprises a paste. 42. The composition of claim 39, wherein the first part and the second part each comprises a paste.