E.max or porcelain veneers: which is better?

Many patients use porcelain for any ceramic veneer, but there are two main types. Traditional feldspathic porcelain is built up in layers by the ceramist and gives lovely translucency, but it is relatively weaker and needs very careful bonding. E.max is a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic: generally stronger and more fracture-resistant, and it can be stained or layered to look natural.

When is E.max usually preferred? When a tooth is discoloured and needs more masking, when bite forces are higher, or for a full smile with many teeth. When might feldspathic porcelain be considered? In selected cases needing ultra-thin shells on light-coloured teeth with little preparation. For back teeth or full crowns, zirconia may be another option; see E.max vs zirconia.

What matters more than the material name is the quality of design, lab work and bonding. Dr. Khalid Saeed designs the veneers with the team at Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai, where they are made, then tried in and bonded at Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Expats in the UAE can also read about E.max veneers in Dubai at Creative Arts.

Do not choose a material because a friend had it or because a package is cheaper. Ask for the material, preparation level and number of teeth in writing, and ask why it suits your case. You can compare the options on the porcelain veneers page.

• E.max: usually stronger, suits most cases
• Feldspathic porcelain: ultra-thin and beautiful in selected cases
• Both are colour-stable, unlike composite
• The material and the reason for it belong in your written plan