E-max and zirconia are popular choices among dentists and dental patients for dental restorations. In the past, metals and porcelain were widely used for dental restorations. However, they have some disadvantages, such as adverse reactions in the body. E-max and zirconia have replaced conventional materials. Although both are ceramic materials, they differ in some properties. This article provides a comprehensive comparison of E-max vs Zirconia, covering crowns, veneers, bridges, strength, price, and aesthetics, so you can decide which material is better for you.
What is E-max Dental Material
E-max is composed of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. It is widely used in the manufacturing of dental restoration materials like dental crowns, bridges, veneers, etc. One of the biggest advantages of E-max over zirconia and other materials is high translucency. Naturally, teeth are translucent, which means light can pass through them. This light makes teeth look radiant. E-max mimics this natural property of teeth. The importance of E-max lies in its ability to simultaneously provide strength, durability, translucency, and ease of processing.
Advantages of E-max
- High Translucency: One of the primary strengths of E-max is its high translucency, which allows restorations to blend seamlessly with natural dentition. This makes E-max ideal for anterior restorations where esthetics are a priority.
- Minimal Tooth Reduction: E-max restorations can be fabricated in very thin layers (e.g., veneers as thin as 0.3mm), allowing for more conservative tooth preparation.
- Excellent Esthetics: The glass-ceramic nature of E-max enables the material to closely mimic the light-diffusing characteristics of enamel.
- Metal-Free: Being completely ceramic, E-max contains no metal, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions and offers better biocompatibility.
- Versatility: E-max is suitable for veneers, crowns, inlays/onlays, and small bridges in the anterior region.
Disadvantages of E-max
- Lower Strength Compared to Zirconia: Although E-max offers sufficient strength (approx. 400 MPa) for most anterior restorations, it may not be ideal for high-stress posterior areas, particularly in patients with bruxism.
- Technique-Sensitive Fabrication: E-max requires careful processing, including proper crystallization cycles, to achieve its optimal properties.
- Limited for Multi-Unit Bridges: Due to its lower fracture toughness, E-max is generally not recommended for long-span bridges.
- Risk of Chipping Under Stress: When placed in posterior zones with excessive load, E-max may be more prone to chipping or failure over time compared to zirconia.
What is Zirconia Dental Material
Zirconia dental material is made from zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂). Among all dental ceramics, Zirconia Material has the highest fracture toughness, making it ideal for harsh oral conditions. It is resistant to chemical degradation and temperature changes. Although it resembles natural teeth in color, it lacks translucency. Zirconia is opaque, which makes it aesthetically less pleasing, especially in visible areas like front teeth.
Advantages of Zirconia
- Exceptional Strength: Zirconia offers a flexural strength between 800–1200 MPa, making it ideal for posterior crowns, bridges, and patients with heavy bite forces or bruxism.
- High Fracture Resistance: Thanks to its superior fracture toughness, zirconia restorations are highly durable and reliable over the long term.
- Biocompatibility: Zirconia is well-tolerated by soft tissues and rarely causes allergic or inflammatory responses.
- Chemical & Thermal Stability: It resists degradation from oral acids and maintains stability under extreme temperature fluctuations, offering long-lasting performance.
- Modern Esthetic Improvements: The latest multilayer and translucent zirconia products—such as those from Aidite—have enhanced esthetic properties, making zirconia suitable for anterior restorations too.
Disadvantages of Zirconia
- Lower Translucency: Traditional zirconia is more opaque than E-max, which may limit its use in highly visible areas where esthetics are critical.
- More Tooth Reduction Needed: Zirconia restorations usually require slightly more tooth preparation due to their higher minimum thickness requirements (0.7–1mm).
- Difficult to Adjust or Polish Intraorally: Once sintered, zirconia is extremely hard, making chairside modifications or polishing more challenging.
- Wear on Opposing Dentition: In some cases, especially with improperly polished zirconia, it may contribute to wear on opposing natural teeth.
Comparing Properties of E-max and Zirconia
To have a better understanding, let’s compare the properties of E-max vs zirconia in detail.
E-max vs Zirconia Strength
In the comparison of E-max vs zirconia strength, Zirconia has a much larger flexural strength than E-max. E-max offers a flexural strength of around 400 MPa. This strength is adequate for most anterior restorations. E-max may not be the best choice for posterior areas. In contrast, zirconia has flexural strength typically around 800-1200 MPa. A higher strength of zirconia makes it ideal for posterior restorations or areas that will be subjected to heavy chewing forces. Among zirconia options, Aidite Zirconia is widely recognized for its outstanding flexural strength and long-term stability, making it a reliable material for both single-unit and full-arch restorations in high-stress regions.
If you’re choosing E-max vs Zirconia crowns for molars, zirconia is generally the more durable choice.
E-max vs Zirconia Translucency
For achieving a natural look in restorations, translucency plays a crucial role. Translucency measures how much light can pass through the material. Teeth are naturally translucent, meaning light can pass through them, creating depth and color variation. E-max is highly translucent, which makes it one of the most aesthetically pleasing materials in dentistry. On the other hand, zirconia has much less translucency. Newer formulations of zirconia offer much higher translucency. In the E-max vs zirconia comparison, E-max is far superior in translucency.
E-max vs Zirconia Thickness Requirements
The thickness requirement of dental Zirconia Material is a critical factor that influences both the strength and aesthetic properties of restorations. One of the advantages of E-max is that it can be milled to thin layers without compromising its strength. E-max veneers can be as thin as 0.3mm. Zirconia veneers have a thickness between 0.7mm to 1mm. In the E-max vs zirconia comparison, E-max allows for thinner restorations (as thin as 0.3 mm for veneers) while maintaining good strength and excellent esthetics.
E-max vs Zirconia Aesthetic Appeal
Considering the aesthetic appeal of dental Zirconia Material is crucial, especially for restorations visible in the smile zones. E-max gives a highly natural appearance due to its high translucency. Zirconia has low translucency, which does not quite match the natural translucency of E-max for highly visible anterior restorations. When considering E-max vs zirconia for esthetics, the high translucency of E-max allows for a more natural appearance.
So, if you’re choosing between E-max vs Zirconia for front teeth, E-max is the superior option.
E-max vs Zirconia Biocompatibility
In terms of biocompatibility, both E-max and zirconia are biocompatible, meaning they do not trigger an immune response in the body. However, some clinical studies have shown that E-max causes inflammation in the soft tissues surrounding the restoration. Zirconia is often preferred for patients with metal allergies or sensitivity.
E-max vs Zirconia Thermal Stability
The temperature in our mouth fluctuates significantly from hot drinks and food. Under these varying temperatures, the dental material should be able to perform well. For that reason, dental materials should have high thermal stability. In the E-max vs zirconia comparison for thermal stability, zirconia offers superior resistance to temperature fluctuations.
E-max vs Zirconia Price
Cost is a major consideration for many patients. So how does E-max vs Zirconia price compare?
- E-max restorations, especially veneers and crowns, tend to be more expensive than zirconia due to their high-end aesthetic quality and more complex lab processing.
- Zirconia restorations are typically more affordable, especially for full-contour crowns or bridges where aesthetics are less critical.
Here’s a rough price comparison (prices vary by region and clinic):
| Restoration Type | E-max Price (USD) | Zirconia Price (USD) |
| Crown | $800–$1,500 | $600–$1,200 |
| Veneer | $900–$2,000 | $700–$1,500 |
| Bridge (3-unit) | $2,000–$4,500 | $1,500–$3,500 |
In summary, if your priority is natural aesthetics and you’re willing to invest more, E-max is a premium choice. But if you’re looking for strength and value, zirconia offers a cost-effective and durable alternative, especially when comparing E-max bridge vs Zirconia bridge costs for multi-unit restorations.
Zirconia vs E-max Veneers
Dental veneers are shells that are placed onto the front surface of teeth to conceal any imperfections, cracks, or stains on teeth. Here’s a brief E-max vs Zirconia veneers comparison:
E-max Veneers
E-max Veneers are an ideal choice when the goal is achieving a picture-perfect smile. These veneers are very thin(as thin as 0.3 mm) and blend seamlessly with adjacent teeth. To fit on teeth, these veneers require minimal teeth reduction. With proper Dental Care, they last from 15 to 20 years.
Zirconia Veneers
Patients with bruxism prefer strength over aesthetics. For strength, zirconia veneers are a better choice. They are a little bit thick as compared to E-max Veneers. Still, they are not bulky in appearance and provide greater fracture resistance. They can last up to 20 years or more.
E-max vs Zirconia Crown
You can think of a crown as a tooth-shaped cap placed on decayed or damaged teeth. The crown procedure can improve the appearance of teeth. They can conceal broken, worn, or chipped teeth. Comparing E-max vs Zirconia crowns:
E-max Crowns
E-max crowns are made of a ceramic material, lithium disilicate, which is metal-free. E-max crowns are highly popular because they are durable and resistant. But the biggest benefit of E-max crowns is that their aesthetic appeal resembles the natural shine of teeth. They are more natural-looking.
According to a comparative study published in the European Scientific Journal, E-max crowns are considered to be the best match for natural teeth due to their translucency and lifelike appearance, which often requires no staining (Dolidze & Bitarova, 2016). This makes them ideal for visible anterior restorations where aesthetics are prioritized.
Zirconia Crowns
Compared to E-max crowns, zirconia crowns have much higher strength and durability. Zirconia crowns are made from zirconium dioxide that exhibits exceptional strength. But it’s more opaque and offers less translucency. These crowns are suitable for posterior restorations and can withstand strong chewing forces.
Aidite’s zirconia crowns are a trusted choice among dental professionals for their exceptional strength, high biocompatibility, and consistent aesthetic performance. Their advanced multilayer formulations offer a more natural gradient of color and translucency, making them suitable even for anterior applications.
Explore Aidite Zirconia Materials to learn more about their high-performance dental solutions.
Which one is better, Zirconia or eMax?
Which material is suitable for you depends on several clinical and aesthetic factors, including the number of teeth being restored, location in the mouth, and patient-specific concerns. In general, if you prefer aesthetics and want a more radiant smile, E-max is the right choice. But if you suffer from bruxism or want more strength, zirconia is ideal. So, E-max is for aesthetic appeal, and zirconia is for strength.
According to discussions on emax vs zirconia reddit, if you are only crowning a single tooth or two, and there is stable occlusion and no hygiene issues, then either material may perform similarly over time. But in more complicated situations, e.g. when both sides of the bite have to be restored, monolithic zirconia is usually preferred because of its structural stability, as long as the functional jaw movements can be reproduced. Otherwise, the chances of failure in the long term are very high.
It is also worth mentioning that although esthetic zirconia has improved tremendously in translucency, it can still lose some of its strength with time through phase transformation. Older high-strength zirconias, especially those applied in hybrid abutments, have been found to wear out more quickly and are no longer recommended because of the possibility of delamination and fractures.
FAQs about E-max vs Zirconia
Which is more expensive, E-max or Zirconia?
When it comes to dental crowns, veneers, and bridges, E-max is more expensive.
What to prefer: E-max vs zirconia for front teeth?
For front teeth, where appearance is usually preferred over strength, E-max is an ideal choice. With high translucency, E-max mimics the natural radiance of teeth.
What is the difference between E-max and zirconia crowns?
E-max dental crowns are made of lithium disilicate. In comparison to E-max vs zirconia crowns, the main difference lies in strength and appearance. E-max crowns have high translucency, and zirconia crowns have much more durability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between E-max and zirconia depends on your specific needs. E-max is the go-to option if you prioritize aesthetics. It offers excellent translucency and a natural appearance, especially for visible restorations in the anterior region. Its ability to mimic the natural radiance of teeth makes it ideal for veneers and crowns on front teeth. However, zirconia stands out for its superior strength and durability, making it suitable for crowns or bridges in the posterior region.
Both materials are biocompatible, but zirconia’s higher resistance to wear and tear makes it a more practical option in certain clinical situations. Ultimately, the right material for you will depend on the balance between aesthetics and functionality that aligns with your dental goals. Trusted by dental professionals worldwide, Aidite ensures that patients receive long-lasting, beautiful restorations that meet the highest standards in the industry.