E.max Restorations

Lithium disilicate done properly: pressed or milled, layered where the smile demands it, and shade-matched under standardised light before it leaves the bench. This page covers options, submission requirements and where E.max is - and is not - the right material.

What we offer & who it is for

We produce E.max restorations for practices and laboratories who need enamel-like translucency: anterior crowns, veneers, and minimally invasive inlays/onlays. Both pressed (lost-wax) and CAD-milled workflows are available.

Work from this line

Ceramic Porcelain Inlays And Onlays - case 2

Options

Pressed E.max	Lost-wax pressing for strength-controlled thin sections and consistent fit - the default for veneers and thin anterior work.
Milled E.max	CAD/CAM from lithium disilicate blocks for digital-first cases and inlays/onlays.
Layered finishing	Cut-back with hand-layered incisal porcelain for cases needing mamelons, opalescence and character.
Staining	Custom staining and glazing from photos, shade tabs or physical shade communication.
Restoration types	Anterior/posterior crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, thin veneers.

Specifications & industry guidance

Parameter	Industry reference	Notes
Flexural strength	360-400 MPa (lithium disilicate, crystallised)	About one third of zirconia - strongest as single units
Recommended minimum thickness	Veneer 0.3-0.5 mm · crown occlusal 1.0-1.5 mm	Adhesive bonding essential below 1 mm
Translucency	High - opacity, medium and HT blocks available	Best optics of the glass-ceramic family
Cementation	Adhesive resin cement with enamel/dentin conditioning	Bonding is what carries thin preparations
Typical indications	Anterior crowns, veneers, inlays/onlays, 3-unit bridges up to premolar region	Not advised for molars or heavy bruxism

Practical guidance for your prescriptions

Keep the finish line in or near enamel wherever possible - adhesive bonding to enamel is the strongest interface.
For deep subgingival margins, consider zirconia; E.max relies on bonded enamel.
Send prep photos with the case: shade choice for thin veneers depends on stump colour.
Opposing porcelain or heavy wear patterns should be flagged - glass ceramics abrade opposing enamel less than zirconia but chip more easily under point loads.

Reference figures are widely accepted industry values for the material/system class - case-specific parameters are confirmed at design. Reviewed by the Istar case coordination team.

Indications & limits

E.max is not the answer everywhere, and we will say so: for molar crowns on bruxers, long-span bridges, or cases with insufficient clearance, our technicians will recommend zirconia before production starts.

Masking a dark stump needs thickness - a same-shade additive case does not. Include the prep depth and target shade so the material and thickness are decided together, not argued at try-in.

What to submit with your case

STL scan or impression of prepared tooth and opposing arch
Rx form with restoration type, shade and thickness constraints
Stump shade note (or photo) for discoloured preparations
Reference photos with shade tab for single anterior units
Wax-up or design file if you want to drive the shape

How the case is made & checked

Case intake and material confirmation (E.max vs zirconia decided with you)

CAD design or wax pattern, per workflow

Pressing or milling in-house

Cut-back and layering / custom staining to prescription

Multi-stage inspection: fit, contacts, occlusion, shade under standardised light

Independent final release sign-off and protective packaging

Shade is verified under standardised light sources before and after porcelain work. Fit, contacts and occlusion are inspected at the same checkpoints as all fixed work, with records retained per case.

Production time & shipping

E.max restorations run on our standard crown-and-bridge workflow (2-3 lab days for routine cases); aesthetic layering cases are scheduled with the ceramic department and confirmed at acceptance. Design approval and missing data do not count toward production time; shipping is separate.

Real cases

Single central veneer matched from photos

A clinic sent a single maxillary central with a preparation adjacent to a natural incisor and no possibility of a try-in visit. Communication ran entirely through photos with a shade tab in frame; the pressed E.max veneer replicated the neighbour's translucency band and surface texture. The client accepted the case on first try-in.

Pricing & fees

Priced per the B2B price list by restoration type and workflow (pressed or milled). Quotes confirm what is included - production, standard components, packaging - with courier freight and import duties billed separately. Custom staining is included in the standard aesthetic price.

If something goes wrong

Laboratory-side remakes are covered free of charge - see the full remake & warranty policy. Every remake starts with a root-cause analysis you are part of.

Frequently asked questions

E.max or zirconia for front teeth?

For single anterior units on healthy, well-lit stumps, E.max usually wins on translucency. For discoloured stumps, implant abutments or bruxers, zirconia (often layered) is safer. Send the stump shade photo and we will advise before production.

How thin can an E.max veneer be?

Minimal-thickness veneers are routine, but the honest answer depends on preparation depth and required shade change - masking needs thickness. Include both in the prescription and the design will respect them.

Are E.max restorations pressed or milled?

Both are available. Pressed lithium disilicate gives dense, reliable anatomy for single units; CAD-milled e.max blocks suit thin veneers and inlays/onlays. Tell us your preference or let the technician choose per case.

When is E.max the wrong choice?

For long-span bridges, heavy bruxism, or patients with severe wear, we will usually advise zirconia instead - E.max is strongest as single units and short bridges in the aesthetic zone. We flag any case we consider at risk before production starts.

What photos should I send for anterior E.max work?

Three photos make the biggest difference: a full-face smile view, a retracted frontal view, and a close-up of the adjacent teeth with a shade tab in frame. This lets our ceramists replicate value, translucency and surface texture instead of guessing.

How thin can an E.max veneer or crown be?

E.max veneers can be designed down to about 0.3-0.5 mm in minimal-prep indications; full crowns need the standard reduction to keep enough material for strength. Send the prep photos or scan and we confirm feasibility before designing.

Ready to send your first case?

Request the price list or tell us about your first case - a named coordinator replies with the next step, not a sales script.

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Content owner: Istar Dental Lab (case coordination team) · Last updated: 2026-10-28