What Is a Lithium Disilicate Crown?
Lithium disilicate is a glass-ceramic containing fine crystals. These crystals make the material clearly stronger than traditional porcelain, while the glassy structure lets light pass through the crown. The result is a crown that looks slightly translucent, like a natural tooth.
The crown is designed on a computer from a digital scan or impression taken by your dentist, and then either milled from a block or pressed in the laboratory. Its shade is matched to the neighbouring teeth, and fine colour effects can be added to the surface if needed.
Systematic reviews of single crowns show that lithium disilicate crowns stay in use without problems in a high proportion of cases over the medium term. Fractures or cracks are seen mainly on molars and in people who clench or grind their teeth.
The bonding technique is key to the success of this crown. The inside of the crown is prepared with a special treatment and then bonded to the tooth with a resin cement. This way the crown and the tooth work together as one structure.
Material
Lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. It is widely known by the trade name E.max.
Appearance
Its translucency is close to natural enamel. It contains no metal, so there is no grey line at the gum.
Where it is used
Front teeth, premolars and, where suitable, molars.
Bonding
The inside is etched with acid, silane is applied and the crown is bonded to the tooth with resin cement.
Limits
It may not fully hide a very dark tooth and is not suited to long bridges at the back of the mouth.
Who Might a Lithium Disilicate Crown Suit?
A lithium disilicate crown is often considered for teeth where appearance matters and chewing forces are moderate. The decision is made for each tooth separately.
Teeth that show when you smile
On front teeth and premolars, its natural translucency makes it easier to blend the crown with the neighbouring teeth.
Teeth that have kept most of their colour
If the tooth underneath has not darkened much, the translucent structure is an advantage: the natural shade of the tooth contributes to how the crown looks.
Restorations covering part of the tooth
The same material can also be used for onlays, inlays and veneers, which remove less tooth.
Colour of the tooth
In a tooth that has darkened after root canal treatment or has a metal post, the colour may show through the crown. A more opaque material may then be suggested.
Bite and grinding
Clenching or grinding at night increases the risk of fracture. Your dentist checks your bite and may suggest a night guard or a stronger material.
Bonding conditions
Resin bonding needs the tooth to be kept well away from saliva. This can be harder on teeth whose edge sits deep under the gum.
Bridges replacing several back teeth
Glass-ceramic is not strong enough to carry several missing back teeth. Zirconia or metal-supported options are considered instead.
Untreated decay or gum disease
Decay, gum inflammation or an infection at the root tip should be treated before a crown is made.
Possible Risks and Limits of a Lithium Disilicate Crown
The risks depend largely on where the tooth is, the forces of your bite and the quality of the bonding.
Fracture or cracking
On molars and in people who clench or grind, the ceramic can crack or break.
Colour show-through
The colour of a very dark tooth or one with a metal post may be visible through the crown.
Temporary sensitivity
There may be brief sensitivity after the tooth is prepared and the crown is bonded.
Weakened bond
If the tooth cannot be kept dry enough during bonding, the bond may weaken, leading to staining at the edge or a loose crown.
Permanent loss of tooth tissue
The tooth is reduced for the crown and this cannot be undone; a crowned tooth will always need a restoration.
How Is a Lithium Disilicate Crown Made?
The process starts with preparing the tooth and ends with resin bonding. The number of appointments depends on whether the crown is made at the clinic or in the laboratory.
- 1
Examination and shade assessment
Your dentist checks the condition and colour of the tooth, any old fillings, your gums and your bite, and takes X-rays if needed. The shade of the neighbouring teeth is recorded.
- 2
Preparing the tooth
Under local anaesthetic, the tooth is reduced to the thickness the glass-ceramic needs. This is more than for a full metal crown and usually less than for a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown.
- 3
Digital scan or impression
The prepared tooth is scanned with an intraoral scanner or an impression is taken. A temporary crown is fitted while the crown is being made.
- 4
Making the crown
The crown is designed on a computer and then milled or pressed from lithium disilicate. After firing, the material reaches its final strength and its shade and surface gloss are adjusted.
- 5
Try-in
Your dentist checks the fit, the edges, the contacts with the neighbouring teeth and the shade. Try-in pastes can be used to preview the colour before bonding.
- 6
Bonding the crown
The inside of the crown is etched briefly with hydrofluoric acid, rinsed, dried and coated with a bonding agent called silane. The tooth is kept away from saliva, then the crown is bonded with resin cement and set with a curing light. Resin cement is the preferred method; where light cannot easily reach, dual-cure cements that set both with light and on their own are used.
Alternatives to a Lithium Disilicate Crown
Depending on where the tooth is, its colour and the forces of your bite, these options can also be considered.
Monolithic zirconia crown
Considerably stronger; often chosen for molars, bridges and people who grind their teeth.
Layered zirconia crown
A zirconia core covered with porcelain. It hides dark teeth better, but the porcelain layer can chip.
Feldspathic porcelain crown
Offers very high aesthetics but is more fragile; mostly considered for front teeth.
Veneer or onlay
Restorations that cover only part of the tooth and remove less tissue; if enough sound tooth is left, they can be considered instead of a crown.
Materials and Bonding in Lithium Disilicate Crowns
The strength of a lithium disilicate crown comes not only from the material but also from the way it is bonded to the tooth. The acid applied to the inside of the crown dissolves part of the glass phase and creates microscopic roughness. Silane then forms a chemical bridge between this surface and the resin cement.
Keeping the tooth free of saliva and blood during bonding is essential. Cotton rolls, gum retraction cord or a rubber dam can be used for this. Excess cement at the edges is carefully removed before it sets.
After bonding, the bite is checked again. Any adjusted areas are polished, because a rough ceramic surface can wear the opposing tooth and increase the risk of cracks.
Digital design
The crown is designed on a computer, milled or pressed, and fired to reach its final strength.
Hydrofluoric acid etching
The inside of the crown is briefly treated with acid to prepare it for bonding.
Silane and resin cement
Silane bonds the ceramic to the resin cement, and the resin cement bonds the crown to the tooth.
Isolation
Keeping the tooth free of saliva during bonding directly affects the quality of the bond.
Settling In and Caring for a Lithium Disilicate Crown
You can use the crown on the day it is bonded. Most people get used to it within a few days.
- 1
The first few hours
Avoid eating and hot drinks until the numbness wears off.
- 2
The first few days
There may be brief sensitivity to hot and cold and slight tenderness at the gum line. This usually settles on its own.
- 3
The first few weeks
If the crown feels high when you bite, go back for a check. A high spot is uncomfortable and also raises the risk of the ceramic cracking.
- 4
Long term
At regular check-ups your dentist looks at the crown edge, your gums and your bite. If grinding is noticed, a night guard may be suggested.
Daily cleaning
Brush the crown twice a day with a soft toothbrush and clean between the teeth with floss or an interdental brush.
Hard objects
Avoid biting ice, nutshells or pens, and do not use your teeth to open packets.
Night guard
If you clench or grind your teeth, wear the night guard your dentist recommends regularly.
A crack or chip in the crown
If you see a crack or a piece has broken off, go for a check. Small chips can sometimes be polished smooth; sometimes the crown needs replacing.
Pain when biting
If biting still hurts a few days after bonding, your bite or the tooth needs assessing.
The crown feels loose
If the crown moves or comes off, keep it and contact the clinic. Do not try to glue it back yourself.
What Affects the Cost of a Lithium Disilicate Crown
The cost depends on the number of crowns, how they are made and any treatment the tooth needs first. You will get exact information with your treatment plan after the examination.
Number of crowns
A single crown and a smile plan covering several teeth need different amounts of design and laboratory work.
How the crown is made
Crowns milled at the clinic and crowns pressed and layered in the laboratory go through different processes.
Treatment needed first
Decay treatment, a filling, root canal treatment or gum treatment are added to the plan if needed.
Aesthetic details
On front teeth, extra try-ins may be needed to match the shade and surface texture to the neighbouring teeth.
Appointment plan
For patients coming from abroad, laboratory time and try-in appointments are planned together with the length of your stay in Antalya.
Before / After
Frequently Asked Questions About Lithium Disilicate (E.max) Crowns
Is an E.max crown the same as a lithium disilicate crown?
E.max is a widely used trade name for lithium disilicate glass-ceramic. In everyday use, both names refer to the same type of crown.
Can a lithium disilicate crown be used on back teeth?
It can be used on premolars and on molars where the bite forces are suitable. If you grind your teeth or need a bridge to replace several missing teeth, a stronger material such as zirconia is usually recommended.
How is a lithium disilicate crown bonded to the tooth?
The inside of the crown is etched briefly with hydrofluoric acid, silane is applied and the crown is bonded to the tooth with resin cement. Keeping the tooth free of saliva during this step is important. This bonding makes the crown part of the tooth and adds to its strength.
How is it different from zirconia?
Lithium disilicate lets light through more naturally, so a natural look is easier to achieve on front teeth. Zirconia is much stronger and hides dark teeth better. Many treatment plans use lithium disilicate at the front and zirconia at the back.
Does the colour of the crown change over time?
The ceramic surface does not change colour and picks up few stains. The cement at the edge of the crown or the natural teeth around it may change colour over time.
What happens if the crown breaks?
Small chips at the edge can sometimes be polished smooth. Larger cracks or fractures mean the crown needs replacing.
How many days do I need to stay in Antalya?
It depends on the number of crowns and how they are made. Single crowns can be prepared quickly, while plans covering several teeth may need a longer stay for try-in appointments. The time is confirmed after the examination.
Medical sources
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Medically reviewed by
Nilufar Tulanova Şener
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
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Eren Koluaçık
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
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Şerife Nur Kerpiçci
Dentist, Aesthetic Dentistry
View doctor profileLast medical review: 12 October 2026