Lithium disilicate crowns
E-max Crowns in Turkey
E-max crowns are full crowns made of lithium disilicate, a tooth-coloured glass-ceramic that covers the whole visible tooth. In reviews, they suit both front and back teeth. However, a crown removes much more tooth than a veneer, so your dentist confirms whether you need one only after examining you in person.
At a glance
- Material
- Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic
- Made by
- Pressing into a mould or milling from a block
- Front or back teeth
- Both, in recent reviews
- Survival at 5 years
- 98.5% for monolithic crowns in one review
- Crown wall in lab tests
- About 1 mm held up on molars
- Fixing
- Bonded or cemented, as your dentist decides
Typical figures from research only, until an in-person examination confirms your plan.
How E-max crowns work
E-max is a trade name, not a separate material. In other words, it is one maker's range of lithium disilicate, and other makers sell similar ceramics. In fact, most crown studies test this one product, so results may not carry over to every brand.
Inside, the ceramic is glass packed with tiny, needle-shaped crystals. These crystals lock together, so they help to stop cracks from spreading. In lab tests, pressed lithium disilicate resists bending at about 370 to 460 MPa. Zirconia is stronger still, at about 500 to 1200 MPa.
A crown covers the whole tooth, so it needs more drilling than a veneer. In one lab study on front teeth, crown preparations removed roughly 63% to 72% of the visible tooth. Veneer preparations, however, removed roughly 3% to 30%. For this reason, a crown suits a broken, heavily filled or weakened tooth, rather than a healthy one.
Strength also depends on thickness. In one lab study, E-max crowns on molars with walls of 1 mm or 1.5 mm held up well. However, crowns with 0.5 mm walls broke at loads the authors judged too low. Your dentist and technician therefore agree the thickness for each tooth.
- 1
Pressed or milled E-max crowns
For a pressed crown, a technician shapes it in wax and then presses heated ceramic into a mould. For a milled crown, a machine cuts it from a part-hardened block, and firing then brings it to full strength. However, one review found no consistent difference in fit between the two.
- 2
Monolithic or layered
A monolithic crown is one solid piece, coloured with surface stains. On the other hand, a layered crown has extra porcelain on top for a more detailed look. In one 2026 review, monolithic crowns chipped less, while layered glass-ceramic crowns survived less well.
- 3
Bonded or cemented
This ceramic contains glass, so your dentist can etch its inside surface and bond it with resin cement. Alternatively, they may use a conventional cement. One review found similar survival with both, although lab work suggests bonding helps thinner crowns.
Who E-max crowns may suit
Suitability is individual. A dentist weighs these points after examining you, so treat them as a guide rather than a checklist.
E-max crowns may suit you if
Another option may be safer if
E-max crowns, zirconia or metal-ceramic?
In a 2026 review of 64 studies, all three crown types reached similar survival at five years. Still, they differ in structure, strength and chipping. Your dentist therefore chooses with you, tooth by tooth.
Your E-max crowns journey
Crowns usually take more than one visit. Your dentist confirms the number of trips and your stay in Istanbul after reviewing your case.
- 1Online
Remote review
First, you send photos and any recent X-rays. A dentist then prepares a provisional plan and explains which options may suit you.
- 2Trip 1
Examination
Next, your dentist checks the tooth, your gums and your bite. Then you decide together whether a crown is needed at all.
- 3Trip 1
Preparation and scan
First, your dentist shapes the tooth to make room for the crown. After that, they take a digital scan or an impression for the lab.
- 4Between visits
Making the crown
Meanwhile, a technician presses or mills your crown. Your dentist will tell you how long this takes before you travel.
- 5Trip 2
Try-in and fitting
Your dentist checks the fit, colour and bite first. Then they bond or cement the crown and polish any adjusted areas.
- 6At home
Regular check-ups
Afterwards, see a dentist regularly, ideally close to home, so they can spot small problems early.
Living with E-max crowns
Cleaning
Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Also, clean between your teeth once a day with floss or small brushes.
Grinding and night guards
In one three-year trial, monolithic molar crowns did as well in people who grind at night as in others. Even so, the trial was short, so ask your dentist whether a night guard makes sense for you.
Wear on opposing teeth
Ceramic crowns can wear the teeth they bite against. For example, one review found measurable wear from both lithium disilicate and zirconia. Smooth polishing after any adjustment matters for this reason.
Risks of E-max crowns
Lithium disilicate crowns have a good record in the short and medium term. For example, an overview of 28 reviews found survival of 95% to 100%, in the same range as metal-ceramic crowns. However, the authors noted that long-term data beyond five years are limited.
One private practice followed 1,960 pressed E-max crowns and small bridges for up to about 10 years. Of those, only seven failed, and five of those were on molars. Still, a crown that survives can need repairs, so ask for written terms on what happens then.
Fracture is the main way these crowns fail. In one review, monolithic crowns chipped less than layered ones. In one long study, most failures were on molars, so thickness matters there.
Similarly, loss of retention was among the common problems in one review of cement types. Careful preparation and the right cement for each tooth therefore help.
In lab work, crowns thinner than about 1 mm broke more easily. If a tooth needs heavy reduction to reach that thickness, your dentist may suggest another material.
A crown preparation removes most of the outer tooth, and that tooth does not grow back. For this reason, a crown on a healthy tooth is rarely the most conservative choice.
Glass-ceramic crowns can wear the enamel they bite against, especially if the surface stays rough. Your dentist polishes any area they adjust.
However, most studies test one product. As a result, other lithium disilicate brands may not behave in exactly the same way.
What to ask about E-max crowns
Ask any clinic, including us, for clear written answers before you book.
- 1Why does this tooth need a full crown rather than a filling, onlay or veneer?
- 2How much tooth will you remove, and how thick will the crown be?
- 3Which lithium disilicate brand will you use, and is it pressed or milled?
- 4Will the crown be monolithic or layered, and why?
- 5Will you bond the crown or cement it?
- 6What happens, and who pays, if a crown chips or comes loose?
E-max crowns: your questions
Not quite. Both are ceramics, but E-max is a trade name for lithium disilicate, a glass-ceramic reinforced with crystals. In lab tests, it resists bending far better than traditional feldspathic porcelain.
Yes, in many cases. Recent reviews found that lithium disilicate crowns performed similarly on front and back teeth. However, molars need enough crown thickness, and your bite affects the choice.
Zirconia is stronger in lab tests. Even so, monolithic crowns of both materials had high survival at five years in one review. Zirconia also cannot be acid-etched, so the two are fixed differently.
In one review, 98.5% of monolithic crowns were still in place after five years. Beyond that, data are limited, and no one can promise a set lifespan. Cleaning and regular check-ups help.
It depends on how much sound tooth remains. By contrast, a veneer covers the front surface and removes far less tooth. On the other hand, a crown suits a tooth that is already badly broken or heavily filled.
Related guides
Medical review required before publication · General information only; it does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised treatment plan.
- Pjetursson BE et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the survival, failure, and complication rates of metal-ceramic, veneered, and monolithic all-ceramic tooth-supported single crowns (2026)
- Sailer I et al. All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs)? A systematic review of the survival and complication rates. Part I: Single crowns (2015)
- Laumbacher H et al. Clinical outcomes and complications of tooth- and implant-supported lithium (di)silicate based single crowns: an overview of systematic reviews (2025)
- Kassardjian V et al. A systematic review and meta analysis of the longevity of anterior and posterior all-ceramic crowns (2016)
- Maroulakos G et al. Effect of cement type on the clinical performance and complications of zirconia and lithium disilicate tooth-supported crowns: a systematic review (2019)
- Malament KA et al. Ten-year survival of pressed, acid-etched e.max lithium disilicate monolithic and bilayered complete-coverage restorations (2019)
- Zarone F et al. Current status on lithium disilicate and zirconia: a narrative review (2019)
- Alghauli MA, Alqutaibi AY. Mechanical behavior and laboratory survival of thin and ultrathin ceramic crowns: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026)
- Seydler B et al. In vitro fracture load of monolithic lithium disilicate ceramic molar crowns with different wall thicknesses (2014)
- Edelhoff D, Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for anterior teeth (2002)
- Edelhoff D, Sorensen JA. Tooth structure removal associated with various preparation designs for posterior teeth (2002)
- Pachiou A et al. Internal fit of lithium disilicate crowns: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing heat-pressed and CAD-CAM-milled fabrication methods (2026)
- Khalid A, Al-Jewair T. Do sleep bruxism patients experience higher complication or failure rates with monolithic lithium disilicate or zirconia molar crowns? (2026)
- Rosa CDDRD et al. Comparative wear of opposing natural enamel by different ceramic materials in fixed dental protheses: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2026)
- Oral Health Foundation. What are dental crowns? (checked September 2026)
Are E-max
crowns right
for you?
First, send a few clear photos and any recent X-rays. A dentist will then review them and explain whether E-max crowns, another material or a more conservative treatment looks suitable. Your plan stays provisional until you're examined in person.