How strong is emax?

Lithium disilicate gets its strength from interlocking crystal microstructure formed during the pressing or CAD/CAM milling process. That same crystalline density is what gives e.max its translucency , the optical property that makes it the go-to ceramic for anterior esthetic cases where zirconia reads too opaque. The tradeoff is load tolerance. At 360-400 MPa, e.max handles normal occlusal forces on single units reliably, but it fractures under the concentrated stress of long-span posterior bridges.

For prosthodontists and restorative dentists planning anterior full-arch or smile-design cases, e.max is typically the first material conversation. A pressed e.max crown transmits light in a way that matches natural enamel more closely than monolithic zirconia at comparable thicknesses, which matters when the adjacent teeth are natural. Shade depth, translucency gradient, and incisal characterization are all accessible with this material in skilled hands.

Practical limits matter in treatment planning. Second molar crowns, cantilever situations, and patients with confirmed parafunction are all contraindications for e.max. In those cases the lab conversation shifts to high-translucency zirconia or a layered zirconia solution. Knowing the boundary before the prep appointment saves chair time and eliminates the remake cycle that follows an under-prescribed material selection.