What are emax crowns?
Emax Crowns are all-ceramic dental crowns made of lithium disilicate, a natural-looking, strong, and durable material. Due to their excellent aesthetics, translucency, and durability, people often prefer Emax crowns for restoring front or visible teeth. They are often used for chipped, damaged or heavily filled teeth.
Emax crown preparation
Emax crown preparation refers to the process of preparing a tooth to receive an emax crown, a type of all-ceramic dental crown made from lithium disilicate material. This preparation is a critical step to ensure the crown fits perfectly, functions effectively, and looks natural. Here’s a detailed explanation of the process:
Emax crown preparation stages:
- The dentist evaluates the patient’s tooth structure and decides whether it is suitable.
- For the placement of the crown, 0.3–1 mm of abrasion is made from the front surface of the tooth.
- A one-to-one model of the tooth is created using digital scanning or traditional impression materials.
- A temporary crown is applied to protect the patient’s tooth until the permanent crown is completed.
- The crown is prepared in the laboratory or with CAD/CAM technology.
- The permanent crown is fixed to the tooth with a special resin adhesive, and final adjustments are made.
Why are emax crown popular?
Emax crowns offer a very similar appearance to natural teeth thanks to their high light transmission. This feature is ideal for patients with high aesthetic expectations, especially for the front teeth.
Emax material has a wide range of colours, making it easy to blend in with neighbouring teeth. In addition, since it does not contain metal, it does not cause grey discolouration in the gum line. Even the name Emax means maximum aesthetics.
Patient satisfaction is high thanks to its aesthetic appearance and durability. Most dentists prefer lithium disilicate-based restorations such as Emax to zirconia and layered zirconia in both front and back teeth.
Why are Emax prices more affordable in Turkey?
Most patients think that a low-priced emax crown is of low quality as well. However, the situation in Turkey is quite the opposite. The exchange rate is the primary cause of the low price of Emax crowns in Turkey. Because foreign currency is more valuable against the Turkish Lira, the price of the Emax crown is more affordable and attractive for patients coming from outside Turkey. The second reason is that the Turkish government has made high-quality dental care more economical for international patients by implementing policies and incentives to promote medical and dental tourism.
Emax crowns vs Zirconia crown
Emax and Zirconia dental crowns are two popular options for metal-free aesthetic dental restorations today. Both materials have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on the patient’s specific needs and clinical situation.
Material and structure
Emax crowns: Made from lithium disilicate ceramic, they are monolithic (single-block) all-ceramic restorations. Some types of Emax may also contain zirconium dioxide.
Zirconia crowns: Made from zirconium dioxide ceramic.
Aesthetic features
Emax crowns: They are more translucent (with higher light transmission) than zirconia. This property allows them to closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth, making them ideal for those with high aesthetic expectations, particularly for front teeth. Emax crowns also offer a wider range of colour options, ensuring a perfect match with your natural teeth.
Zirconia crowns: They are more opaque, which makes them highly effective at masking discoloured or dark teeth. Layered zirconia, with porcelain applied on top, can provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance. However, full-contour zirconia is considered less aesthetic and is typically preferred for back teeth.
Strength and durability
Emax (Lithium Disilicate): Emax also has high strength and is generally sufficient for single-tooth restorations (both anterior and posterior) and three-unit small bridges.
Zirconia: Zirconia generally has higher strength and fracture resistance compared to Emax. Full-contour zirconia, in particular, offers higher flexural strength than other ceramic materials. Therefore, it is more suitable for back teeth exposed to high chewing forces and long-span bridge restorations.
Uses of procedures
Emax: Primarily preferred for anterior restorations requiring high aesthetics (crowns, veneers) and single crowns on premolars. It can also be used for inlays, onlays, and three-unit anterior and premolar bridges. It is suitable for implant superstructures in the anterior and premolar regions.
Zirconia: More suitable for posterior restorations requiring high strength (crowns, bridges) and long-span bridge restorations. It is also preferable in cases where discoloured teeth need to be masked. Layered zirconia can be used for both anterior and posterior teeth, while full-contour zirconia is typically preferred for posterior teeth.
Cementation
Emax: Can be applied using adhesive (bonding), self-adhesive, or conventional cement. However, adhesive cementation is not recommended for deep subgingival preparations.
Zirconia: Can be applied using self-adhesive or conventional cement. It can also be used with resin cement.
Tooth preparation
Emax: For back crowns, at least 1.5 mm of reduction should be made to the chewing surface and the side surface of the tooth, and the shoulder should be prepared 1.0 mm deep.
Zirconia: Zirconia crowns generally require less tooth reduction.
What is emax laminate veneers?
Emax laminate veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made shells made of high-strength lithium disilicate ceramic. They improve the appearance of teeth by covering imperfections, such as discolouration, chips, or gaps.
Advantages of emax laminate veneers
- Made from lithium disilicate ceramic, which combines exceptional aesthetics with high durability. Some types of Emax may also contain zirconium dioxide for added strength.
- Thanks to their high translucency, Emax veneers closely mimic the appearance of natural teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable. They maintain their colour and shine for a long time, ensuring a lasting aesthetic result.
- The procedure of laminate veneers typically requires minimal tooth reduction. In some cases, no tooth reduction is needed at all. This helps preserve the natural tooth structure, which is a significant advantage.
- Emax laminate veneers are bonded only to the front surfaces of teeth, similar to how fake nails are applied. They do not come into contact with the back surfaces of the teeth.
- Emax veneers bond strongly to the tooth surface, ensuring durability. They also help protect the underlying tooth structure and the veneers themselves.
Uses of emax laminate veneer
Emax laminate veneers are used for various aesthetic problems:
- Stained or discoloured teeth.
- Slightly crooked or malpositioned teeth.
- Broken or cracked teeth.
- Gaps between teeth (diastemas).
- Loss of material in the teeth.
Durability:
Emax material has high fracture and chewing resistance, and when applied with an adhesive bonding technique, it further increases the resistance of the tooth.
Comparison with emax crowns:
The material of emax laminate veneers and emax crowns is the same (lithium disilicate). However, while laminate veneers are applied only on the front surface of the tooth, emax crowns cover the entire surface of the tooth. Emax crowns may be preferred instead of laminate veneers in people who have undergone root canal treatment or have a habit of bruxism.
Comparison with composite veneers:
Emax laminate veneers have higher light transmittance than composite veneers and offer a closer appearance to natural teeth. They also retain their colour and gloss for longer and their durability is higher than composites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will I stay in Turkey when getting dental crowns?
Turkey is known for its hospitality and offers many options for dental veneers. Many patients combine their treatment with a holiday to explore the country’s culture, history, and cuisine.
Healthcare in Turkey is often offered through package programs. You can contact Miradental Clinic for information about accommodation options, holiday programs, and package services close to our clinic in Antalya.
Are emax dental crowns painful?
During the procedure of emax dental crowns, no pain is felt because local anaesthesia is used during tooth preparation. There may be slight discomfort during anaesthesia application. After the procedure, a short-term and mild sensitivity may be experienced.
How long does it take to get emax crowns?
The duration of emaxcrown treatment depends on the clinic’s technological infrastructure (whether they have CAD/CAM systems), the dentist’s preference, and the complexity of the case.
- Quick treatment: If you have no dental or gum issues, or if these issues have already been resolved, the entire treatment process (including try-in stages) can usually be completed within 3-7 days.
- CAD/CAM technology: In some clinics, treatment can even be completed in a single session using CAD/CAM technology.
- Traditional methods: If traditional laboratory processes and multiple dental visits are required, the treatment may take a few days or weeks.
- For the most accurate information about how long your treatment will take, you can contact our clinic.