A dental glass ionomer cement composition is disclosed, containing a coloring matter, a color of which is specified such that an L* value, when expressed by an L*a*b* colorimetric system in a standard illuminant D.sub.65, being 60 or less, and a content of the coloring matter being preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight based on the whole of the composition, and when the dental glass ionomer cement composition according to the invention is used in a setting method of a dental glass ionomer cement that is a most generally used dental cement at present over a wide range of dental applications by means of irradiation with a light, it has an effect for further shortening the time of sensitization to water and the time of setting.