The present invention provides prosthetic dental appliances which contain at least one outer surface portion which includes an outer surface of the appliance which is adapted to be polished and which is highly abrasion resistant. Said shaped body portion is a hardened matrix material containing amorphous silicic acid filler particles of a maximum particle size of about 0.07 micrometer. Preferably, at least 30% of the body portion comprises the filler particles. The polymeric matrix is preferably a hardened organic resin. The invention also includes the hardenable material comprising a hardenable matrix having filler paticles dispersed therein which is used to produce the hardened prosthetic dental appliances.