Short answer
An e.max crown is a single-unit lithium disilicate crown, a glass-ceramic that transmits more light than zirconia. It is the pick when esthetics outweigh load, especially in the anterior. Minimum thickness depends on the technique: for IPS e.max Press, Ivoclar calls for 1.0 mm on anterior and posterior crowns. We make our e.max in-house.
What it is
A single crown in lithium disilicate, the glass-ceramic most dentists call e.max after Ivoclar’s IPS e.max line. It transmits more light than zirconia, so it gets closer to natural enamel with less staining.
We make our e.max in-house, in our own ceramics department, from a design done in CAD on your scan.
When to prescribe it
An e.max crown makes sense when esthetics matter more than load: anterior teeth and premolars. In the 2026 meta-analysis in The International Journal of Prosthodontics, monolithic lithium disilicate had the highest 5-year survival of all the materials studied, at 98.5%. Veneered glass-ceramics (leucite or lithium disilicate with a layering porcelain) came in at 95.7%, a significant gap.
Clearance and stump shade are what limit it. For IPS e.max Press, Ivoclar calls for at least 1.0 mm of material on a crown, anterior or posterior. The milled version has its own numbers, compared in monolithic vs multilayer zirconia vs e.max. On a badly discolored tooth or a metal post and core, translucency works against you, and a zirconia crown usually masks better.
How we make it
Our e.max crowns are made entirely in our in-house ceramics department in São Paulo, Brazil, with staining and glaze done by hand. If your plan depends on the technique (pressed or milled), note it on the Rx and we’ll confirm it when the case is opened. Every stage is validated and logged, the crown goes through eight checks before it ships, and you follow its phase in the portal.
What to send
The basics are in our case submission guide. With e.max, shade decides the result: send the shade from the guide, a photo with the tab held against the adjacent tooth and, if the prep is discolored, the stump shade. Our shade guide shows how to photograph for the lab.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum thickness for an e.max crown?
For IPS e.max Press, Ivoclar specifies at least 1.0 mm on anterior and posterior crowns. Check your reduction before you scan: where the space falls short, the choice is between refining the prep and switching material. Milled e.max CAD has its own table, compared in our article on zirconia and e.max.
e.max or zirconia?
In a 2026 meta-analysis in The International Journal of Prosthodontics, monolithic lithium disilicate crowns had 98.5% survival at five years and monolithic zirconia 96.8%. e.max is more translucent; zirconia is stronger. On a dark stump or with tight clearance, zirconia is usually the better call.
Why does the lab need the stump shade?
Because e.max lets light through, and the prepared tooth shows through it. Ivoclar makes a dedicated guide for recording the shade of the prep, used to choose the shade and value of the restoration. On a metal post or a dark tooth, without it the final shade is a guess.
Sources
- IPS e.max Press — indications and minimum thicknesses · Ivoclar
- 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 (Part 1) · The International Journal of Prosthodontics (2026)
- Novel zirconia materials in dentistry · Journal of Dental Research (2018)
- IPS Natural Die Material Shade Guide · Ivoclar