Emax crown: The best translucent dental material
Contents
Before the advent of Emax and Zirconia, PFM (porcelain fused to metal) was a popular dental material in the denture industry. The excellent mechanical properties make PFM has favored and widely used for a long time. However, the anterior tooth area becomes an obstacle to this material as metallic seen in PFM restorations after a period of use causes the anterior tooth area to gradually lose its aesthetic appeal. To improve the aesthetics, dental researchers are looking for non-metallic substitutes. Finally, Emax and Zirconia have shown their dominant role as non-metallic properties in the dental industry.
Up to now, Emax and Zirconia are both materials with high durability, superior aesthetics compared to other dental materials. However, it is always necessary to choose and use materials in the right situations and for the exact purposes to make the most of the superior properties of the materials. Therefore, understanding the pros and cons of each material will make it easier to create the perfect crowns.
What have you learned about Emax materials? Which case is Emax crown suitable? Advantages of Emax over Zirconia? These are the questions you need to find out before deciding whether to choose Emax or Zirconia crowns.
1. Name and origin
Emax is a high-quality porcelain material used for teeth made by Ivoclar Vivadent (Germany). The name Emax stands for Esthetic Maximum, which means the most esthetic.
2. Composition and characteristics of Emax
The main structural component of Emax is Lithium Disilicate porcelain, with a superior advantage that the inner frame is the latest glass-ceramic fibers, fired at a temperature higher than 1600 degrees, so Emax is solid, suitable for manufacturing dentures.
3. Types of Emax crown
Currently, there are two different technologies to manufacture Emax crown including:
a. Emax Zirconia crown
The key to making the Emax Zirconia crown is Cad/cam technology. The inner frame is Zirconia cut by the milling machine. The outside is Emax porcelain layers, which help the Emax Zirconia crown have natural aesthetics and very high hardness.
b. Emax Press
The second technology to produce Emax porcelain teeth is compression technology (Press). Porcelain teeth are shaped with wax, then molded with Lithium Disilicate porcelain ingots in a specialized furnace. This technology gives high accuracy and achieves the best fit available today, minimizing the shrinkage of the material, and is the main technology to produce IPS Emax porcelain veneers.
Both CAD/CAM and Press technologies create frames of equal accuracy. While the Emax Zirconia frame is more stable, the Emax Press frame has a more natural shape. Depending on replacement teeth are incisors or molars, the dentist will advise you on the most suitable type.
4. Application of Emax crown
Emax crowns are one of the best quality all-ceramic teeth, are indicated in many cases.
a. Emax crown
As a type of porcelain tooth that gives customers perfect aesthetics, durability, and long life, the Emax crown is the choice of many experts and customers to overcome physical defects, the color on the teeth.
b. Emax Veneers
Currently, Emax Press porcelain is a popular material to produce porcelain veneers. Due to the advantage of not having a Zirconia core, this type of Emax porcelain can create Emax porcelain veneers with beautiful colors, high transparency, and very thin (0.3 – 0.5 mm). Besides, Press technology avoids errors due to material shrinkage, which is very suitable for making porcelain veneers.
c. Emax Inlay-Onlay crown
Emax porcelain is used quite commonly in Inlay – Onlay technique. The precision of Emax crown manufacturing technology allows creating microscopic details with the highest accuracy, namely micro-ceramic pieces to weld into cavities or broken, worn teeth pieces.
5. Advantages of Emax teeth
Like natural teeth: The optical transparency is like dentin making Emax teeth are similar to natural teeth in color
The lifespan of the Emax crown is high, which can be maintained for a lifetime if the patient takes good care and thoroughly.
High safety, no irritation: Emax crown processing material used in space technology is a protective cover for the shuttle or an artificial hip joint, so it has high safety, no bad breath, no irritation
Emax crown is less sensitive: Emax porcelain teeth have a smooth surface to help reduce sensitivity, prevent plaque, and keep teeth color natural.
Emax is very close to the jaw: Modern technology help create Emax porcelain teeth that fit closely to the gum line, without gaps, do not cause bad breath, lead food.
With these advantages, Emax porcelain teeth are the ideal choice for cases where it is necessary to overcome defects on old teeth, such as sparse teeth, messy teeth, chipped teeth, decayed teeth, teeth.
6. Disadvantages of Emax crown
In addition to the advantages, Emax porcelain teeth also have disadvantages:
High cost is the most noticed disadvantage of Emax porcelain teeth. With an average price of $1200- $1800/crown (according to www.dentaly.org), not everyone can choose this type of porcelain for restorations, especially in cases where financial conditions are limited.
Low Hardness: In addition, hardness is another limitation of this line of porcelain teeth. The hardness of Emax porcelain teeth is quite low, only 400 MPA, which is only about two times higher than the average hardness of enamel. Meanwhile, this number in other all-ceramic teeth usually reaches the threshold of 3-5 times.
Therefore, Emax porcelain teeth are not suitable for making porcelain bridges that are too long or porcelain bridges for molars.
7. Compare Emax teeth with Zirconia and Metal teeth
| Emax Teeth | Zirconia Teeth | Metal teeth | |
| Structure | Lithium Disilicate Porcelain | Zirconium Dioxide Porcelain | The frame is made of metal, the outside is covered with an aesthetic porcelain layer |
| Aesthetic | Natural clarity like real teeth, no ghosting when light shines through No black gum line after 1 period of restoration | High aesthetics but more turbidity than Emax No black gum line after 1 period of restoration | The color is not natural like real teeth, it is shaded when under light After a period of use, it is oxidized, leading to black gums |
| Durability | The hardness is 400 MPA quite low compared to other all-ceramic teeth, but still ensures good chewing function, fracture resistance, and crack resistance. | High hardness, from 700 MPA – 1400 MPA, helps to make the restoration stable, difficult to chip | Hardness is from 400-420 MPA |
| Compatibility | High biocompatibility, safe with the human body, can stay in the mouth for many years, even a lifetime without causing irritation. | High biocompatibility, safe with the human body, can stay in the mouth for many years, even a lifetime without causing irritation. | The material is safe for the human body, but can still cause irritation in some cases |
| Longevity | Last from 10- 20 years | Last from 10- 20 years | From 5-8 years may need to restore |
| Sensitive to Food | Maintains the food sensing ability of natural teeth. Good insulation protects the pulp from being stimulated by hot or cold foods and drinks, high hardness for comfortable chewing. | Maintains the food sensing ability of natural teeth. Good insulation protects the pulp from being stimulated by hot or cold foods and drinks, high hardness for comfortable chewing | Because metals conduct electricity and heat, eating hot and cold foods may cause sensitivity or pain in the pulp. |
Author: Xdent team