The invention relates to a process for producing a dental appliance, the process comprising the steps of a) providing a mixture of a liquid, an inorganic binder precursor being able to undergo a sol/gel reaction and a glass or glass ceramic powder, b) casting the mixture into a mold, c) drying the cast mixture in the mold to obtain a machinable dental appliance, d) optionally machining the dental appliance to obtain a dental workpiece, e) optionally removing the dental appliance or dental workpiece from the mold, f) optionally sintering the dental appliance or dental workpiece and to a dental appliance obtainable by such a process.