Lithium disilicate veneers
E-max Veneers in Turkey
E-max veneers are thin ceramic shells made of lithium disilicate, a glass-ceramic that is much stronger than traditional porcelain in lab tests. They can change the colour, shape or size of front teeth. However, they are not the right choice for every tooth, so your dentist confirms the material 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
- Thinnest in studies
- About 0.3 mm for ultrathin veneers
- Tooth preparation
- Usually a small amount of enamel
- Survival at about 10 years
- 96.81% in one review
- Visits
- Usually more than one
Typical figures from research only, until an in-person examination confirms your plan.
How E-max veneers work
E-max is a trade name, not a separate material. It is one maker's range of lithium disilicate, and other makers sell similar glass-ceramics. In short, the ceramic is glass packed with tiny, needle-shaped crystals. These crystals lock together, so they help to stop cracks from spreading.
Because of this structure, E-max veneers resist bending far better than feldspathic porcelain in lab tests. For example, reviews quote about 350 to 460 MPa for lithium disilicate, against about 60 to 70 MPa for feldspathic porcelain. Even so, feldspathic porcelain still copies the shade and glow of natural teeth very well.
Lithium disilicate also comes in several levels of translucency. Clear versions let light pass through like enamel, while more opaque ones can help to hide a darker tooth. Thickness matters too, because a thicker veneer looks less see-through. On the other hand, a very thin veneer may not mask a dark tooth.
Its strength lets your dentist keep a veneer thin. In lab tests, veneers of this ceramic just 0.3 mm thick held loads similar to 0.5 mm ones. However, another study found that very thin veneers break more easily, so thickness is a clinical decision.
- 1
Pressed E-max veneers
A technician shapes each veneer in wax. Then heated ceramic goes into a mould, much like the lost-wax method. In one review, pressed veneers fitted more closely at the edges and lasted longer, although the evidence was weak.
- 2
Milled E-max veneers
First, software designs the veneer from a digital scan. Next, a machine mills it from a part-hardened block, and firing then brings it to full strength. Milling suits a digital workflow and gives a good fit on the inside.
- 3
Bonding to enamel
This ceramic contains glass, so your dentist can etch its inner surface with a special acid for about 20 seconds and then coat it with silane. As a result, it bonds firmly with resin cement. Bonding mostly to enamel, rather than the softer dentine below, links to fewer problems.
Who E-max veneers may suit
Suitability is individual. A dentist weighs these points after examining you, so treat them as a guide rather than a checklist.
You might consider E-max veneers if
A different plan may be safer if
E-max veneers, feldspathic porcelain or composite?
Each material can work well. In one large review, lithium disilicate and feldspathic veneers had similar survival at about 10 years. However, E-max veneers had far fewer technical problems, while composite suits a different kind of plan.
Your E-max veneers journey
Veneers usually take more than one visit. Your dentist confirms the number of visits 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 materials may suit you.
- 2Visit 1
Examination and planning
Next, your dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite. Then, together, you agree the shape, shade and whether veneers are the right option at all.
- 3Visit 1
Preparation and scan
Your dentist removes a small amount of enamel, often keeping the edges in enamel. Then they take a scan or an impression for the lab.
- 4Between visits
Making the veneers
Meanwhile, a technician presses or mills each veneer. Your dentist will tell you how long this takes before you travel.
- 5Visit 2
Try-in and bonding
Your dentist checks the fit and colour first. After that, they etch each veneer, bond it with resin cement and check your bite.
- 6At home
Regular check-ups
Afterwards, see your dentist regularly, ideally close to home, so they can spot small problems early.
Living with E-max veneers
Cleaning
Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth, just as you would without veneers. Good daily cleaning and regular check-ups help veneers last longer.
Grinding and night guards
Grinding raises the risk of a veneer breaking. In one study, it doubled the risk of fracture. Also, among people who grind, fracture risk rose sevenfold without a night guard.
Chips and edges
Over time, small gaps or staining can appear at the edge, often where the gum has shrunk back. Fortunately, in one review, dentists handled most of these problems without a new veneer.
Risks of E-max veneers
Ceramic veneers have a good record overall. For example, a 2025 review of 29 studies found that 96.81% of lithium disilicate veneers were still in place after about 10 years. However, that figure comes from only three long-term studies. Also, feldspathic porcelain scored 96.13%, and the review found no real difference in survival. Older reviews reached a similar conclusion.
Where E-max veneers stood out was in fewer problems. At about 10 years, technical problems affected 6.1% of lithium disilicate veneers, compared with 41.48% of feldspathic ones. Still, a veneer that survives can need repairs, so ask for written terms on what happens then.
Fracture is the main reason veneers fail, especially when people grind. Across all ceramic veneers in one review, 2.51% broke badly enough to need a new veneer by about 10 years, while 3.53% chipped.
In the same review, 2.2% of veneers came unstuck. Careful etching, a dry tooth surface and bonding to enamel all help to prevent this.
For E-max veneers, small gaps and staining at the edge were the most common long-term findings. Often, the gum had shrunk back and exposed the edge. Even so, these rarely meant replacing the veneer.
Grinding and clenching raise the risk of fracture. So if you grind, your dentist may suggest a night guard after your veneers go on.
Most veneers need a small amount of enamel removed, and that enamel does not grow back. By contrast, full crowns need far more drilling, and one review linked them to more nerve and decay problems than partial coverage.
A veneer that is too thin, or too clear, may let a dark tooth show through. For this reason, your dentist and technician choose the thickness and opacity together.
What to ask about E-max veneers
Ask any clinic, including us, for clear written answers before you book.
- 1Are you planning veneers or full crowns, and why?
- 2Which lithium disilicate ceramic will you use, and is it pressed or milled?
- 3How much enamel will you remove before fitting each veneer?
- 4Will the veneers bond mainly to enamel after preparation?
- 5Do I need a night guard if I grind my teeth?
- 6What happens, and who pays, if a veneer chips or comes loose?
E-max veneers: your questions
Both are ceramics, but they differ. E-max is a trade name for lithium disilicate, a glass-ceramic reinforced with crystals. Feldspathic porcelain is a weaker ceramic that copies natural teeth very well.
In lab tests, yes: lithium disilicate resists bending several times better than feldspathic porcelain. For patients, however, survival at about 10 years was similar, although E-max veneers had fewer technical problems in one review.
In one review, 96.81% were still in place after about 10 years. However, that figure rests on three studies, and no one can promise a set lifespan. Cleaning, check-ups and a night guard if you grind all help.
Neither is clearly better. One review found a closer edge fit with pressed veneers and a smoother digital workflow with milled ones. Still, the authors rated the evidence as low certainty.
Sometimes. Because lithium disilicate is so strong, a technician can make it very thin, down to about 0.3 mm in studies. Whether this suits you depends on the position and colour of your teeth.
Related guides
Medical review required before publication · General information only; it does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised treatment plan.
- Klein P et al. Survival and complication rates of feldspathic, leucite-reinforced, lithium disilicate and zirconia ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2025)
- Morimoto S et al. Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and complication rates (2016)
- Petridis HP et al. Survival of ceramic veneers made of different materials after a minimum follow-up period of five years: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2012)
- Sudharson NA et al. Clinical performance and survival outcomes of milled versus pressed lithium disilicate veneers: a systematic review (2025)
- Zarone F et al. Current status on lithium disilicate and zirconia: a narrative review (2019)
- Alghazzawi TF. Clinical survival rate and laboratory failure of dental veneers: a narrative literature review (2024)
- Śmielak B et al. Clinical longevity and trend analysis of 801 ultrathin ceramic veneers: a clinical cohort study (2024)
- Lim TW et al. Survival and complication rates of resin composite laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2023)
- Liu M et al. Comparison of failure and complication risks of porcelain laminate and indirect resin veneer restorations: a meta-analysis (2019)
- Vichi A et al. Translucency of lithium-based silicate glass-ceramics blocks for CAD/CAM procedures: a narrative review (2023)
- Oral Health Foundation. Veneers (reviewed April 2026)
Are E-max
veneers right
for you?
First, send a few clear photos of your smile and any recent X-rays. A dentist will then review them and explain whether E-max veneers, another material or a different treatment looks suitable. Your plan stays provisional until you're examined in person.