A dental composition comprising a silver-containing ceramic having antimicrobial
and color stabilizing properties and methods for using the composition. The composition
comprises a silver-containing glass powder or a silver-containing zeolite powder,
at least one monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, and a
polymerization initiator system. Other components, such as a filler, may also be
included. The inventive composition possesses antimicrobial properties and exhibits
excellent mechanical properties upon curing. Additionally, when the polymerization
initiator is a two-part redox initiator system, the composition has improved color
stability. The inventive composition can be used as a dental restorative composition,
an endodontic composition, an orthodontic composition, and/or a prosthetic composition.
