IPS e.max

What is an IPS e.max Crown? (The Gold Standard for a Natural-Looking Smile)

You need a crown, but the tooth is right in your smile line. Your biggest fear? Getting a restoration that looks bulky, opaque, or has that tell-tale dark line at the gums. You want your tooth back, but you also want your confidence. You want it to be perfect.

Enter IPS e.max, the material we turn to when "good enough" simply isn't.

Think of e.max as the pinnacle of dental aesthetics. If a traditional crown is a functional, reliable sedan, an e.max crown is a master-crafted luxury vehicle. It doesn’t just get the job done; it does so with unparalleled beauty and elegance. It is, in our opinion, the closest thing we have to mimicking a natural tooth.

What Makes e.max So Special?

Let’s skip the dense science and get to what matters. IPS e.max is a specific type of lithium disilicate, a high-strength glass-ceramic. The magic is in that "glass-ceramic" combination.

It Has Lifelike Translucency: Natural teeth aren't just one solid color. Light passes through the enamel, creating depth and vitality. Most crown materials block light, which is why they can look "flat" or "dead." An e.max crown allows light to pass through it, perfectly replicating the translucency of a natural tooth.
It's Incredibly Strong (Without Metal): For years, the only way to get a strong crown was to build it on a metal base (see: PFM crowns). While strong, that metal foundation blocks light and can create a dark line at your gums. E.max is crafted from a solid block of ceramic that has been specially processed for exceptional strength, giving you the best of both worlds: top-tier durability and flawless aesthetics.

When is an e.max Restoration the Right Choice?

We rely on e.max when aesthetics are the number one priority. This includes:

Crowns on Front Teeth: For any tooth that shows when you smile, e.max is almost always our first recommendation.
Porcelain Veneers: To create those seamless, beautiful smile makeovers, e.max provides the perfect combination of thinness and beauty.
Inlays and Onlays: For posterior teeth that need a strong, tooth-colored restoration but don't require a full crown, e.max is a fantastic choice.

The Honest Truth: e.max vs. Zirconia

Patients often ask, "Should I get e.max or Zirconia?" It's a great question, and the answer depends on your specific needs.

Choose e.max for A-List Aesthetics: For a front tooth, nothing beats the natural beauty and light-handling properties of e.max. While modern zirconia is getting more and more beautiful, e.max remains the king of cosmetic restorations.
Choose Zirconia for "Bulletproof" Strength: For your back molars that handle immense chewing forces, or if you are a heavy teeth grinder, Zirconia is often the more durable choice. It's the strongest material we have in dentistry.

Think of it like this: e.max is the supermodel, and zirconia is the heavyweight champion. We help you choose the right one for the job.

What Nobody Tells You About Getting an e.max Crown

The material itself is brilliant, but it's the artistry that brings it to life. An e.max crown from an average lab will look average. An e.max crown from a master ceramist, however, is a work of art.

The process involves an intimate collaboration between your dentist and a skilled lab technician.

Meticulous Preparation: We carefully shape your tooth, creating the ideal foundation for the restoration.
Perfect Shade Matching: We don't just pick a color. We analyze hue, value, and chroma, often taking professional-grade photos to send to our lab.
Master Artistry: The lab technician then builds upon the e.max core, layering on different shades of porcelain to mimic the subtle color variations and translucency of your adjacent teeth.