IPS e.max

In many cases, an all-ceramic restoration that is stronger than stacked porcelain is needed to achieve the ideal esthetic result. Pressed ceramic is ideal in these situations. Our recommendation for pressed glass restorations is IPS Empress Esthetic and the new IPS e.max porcelains.

IPS Empress Esthetic remains the ultimate leucite reinforced pressed glass ceramic, featuring a broader range of ingot shades and layering porcelains. It continues to be the ultimate benchmark for highly esthetic pressed porcelain veneers, inlays/onlays and single tooth replacements (bicuspid forward).

The new IPS e.max system now broadens the spectrum of ceramic IPS alternatives, providing the ultimate in metal-free esthetics with a single (universal) overlay porcelain that can be layered or pressed to the higher strength core materials of lithium disilicate and zirconia.

IPS e.max is a registered trademark of Ivoclar Vivadent, Inc.


Prep requirements

Anterior full-coverage crowns require a chamfer or shoulder margin. A circular shoulder is prepared with rounded inner edges or a chamfer at an angle of 10-30°: the width of the shoulder/chamfer is approx. 1 mm. Facial reduction is 1.5-2.0 mm; 1.0-1.5 mm lingual contact clearance. Incisal reduction is 1.5-2.0 mm with rounded internal line angles, and an incisal edge at least 1mm wide to permit optimum milling of the incisal edge during CAD/CAM processing.

Posterior full-coverage crown requires a chamfer or shoulder margin. A circular shoulder is prepared with rounded inner edges or a chamfer at an angle of 10-30°: the width of the shoulder/chamfer is approx. 1 mm. Occlusal reduction is 1.5-2.0 mm: axial reduction (buccal, lingual and interproximal) is 1.5 mm with rounded internal line angles.


Recommended cementation

For greatest strength, and where preparation allows for dry field (supra-gingiva margins), it is recommended to use adhesive bonding, such as Multilink Automix (Ivoclar Vivadent) or similar dual cure materials. For areas subgingival, or when a dry field cannot be achieved, Ivoclar Vivadent recommends a hybrid glass ionomer cement system with less than 0.5% expansion.

Below is a list of recommended resin cements:

  • Speedcem (Ivoclar Vivadent)
  • Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray) -ideal for short, tapered preparations
  • Resin Ionomer cement (RelyX or RelyX Unicem, 3M ESPE)
  • Maxcem Elite (Kerr)