Case fabricated at Khai Nguyen Dental Lab to the treating dentist’s prescription. Photos were taken by the lab on the model and first published on Instagram @khainguyendentallab on 17 June 2026; no patient-identifying information is included. Written for dentists and dental technicians.
Case summary
| Indication | Pressed IPS e.max crown combined with feldspathic veneers in the upper anterior segment |
|---|---|
| Materials | IPS e.max Press (crown) and feldspathic porcelain (veneers) |
| Shade | OM1 (bleach shade group) |
| Technical focus | Recreating the incisal halo and enamel striations on a very bright base shade |
| Photo source | Instagram @khainguyendentallab, 17 June 2026 |
Photo above: Incisal halo on an OM1 central incisor: a thin, brighter opaque band framing the translucent incisal zone.
What the dentist asked for
The patient had bleached and wanted the anterior segment restored in shade OM1. One tooth needed a full crown because of extensive tissue loss; the others needed veneers only. The dentist required both types of restoration to share the same translucency, surface structure and character, even though they would be made from two different materials.
The difficulty with OM1 is that its high value makes restorations look flat and opaque. Natural bright teeth still show stratification: a slightly warmer cervical area, vertical striations on the body, a translucent incisal edge framed by a thin bright band, the halo. Without these details a white smile reads as plastic.
Why e.max Press with feldspathic
The full crown needs strength to carry load and mask the preparation, so pressed lithium disilicate with a flexural strength around 400 to 500 MPa and enough translucency for anterior work was chosen (see the materials comparison). Veneers on teeth with plenty of remaining enamel suit hand-layered feldspathic, which gives the finest control over effects. To make the two materials match, the e.max crown was pressed from an ingot of suitable translucency, then cut back in the incisal third and layered with the same porcelain used for the veneers. The outermost layer of crown and veneers is therefore one ceramic system fired on the same schedule, so light behaves the same way on every unit.
Lab workflow
- Ingot and opacity selection. For OM1, an ingot opaque enough to mask the preparation without killing incisal translucency.
- Press and cut-back. The crown was pressed to full contour, then reduced in the incisal third to create room for effect porcelain.
- Effects on crown and veneers together. Translucent porcelain at the edge, a halo built with higher-opacity enamel around the incisal outline, fine vertical striations with effect porcelain, then firing and checks under several light sources.
- Surface and gloss. A consistent micro-texture across the whole arch and mechanical polishing instead of a thick glaze, to avoid a mirror-like surface.
Result
The close-up on the model shows a distinct halo at the incisal edge of the central incisor, translucency below it and vertical enamel striations running the length of the crown. At normal viewing distance the pressed crown and the layered veneers cannot be told apart. That was the success criterion for the case: a bright arch that still has depth.
Lessons for similar cases
- When combining crowns and veneers in one arch, ask the lab to use one ceramic system for the outer layer. Prescribing different core materials per tooth is normal; the surface layer must be uniform.
- Bleach shades still need effects. Write it on the prescription: “halo, striations, translucent edge”. Otherwise the lab may read the request as a uniform shade.
- Photograph OM1 and OM2 tabs next to the bleached natural teeth so the lab sees the target value under the same lighting.
Need help choosing materials for an anterior case? Message WhatsApp +84 902 945 585 or read our comparison of pressed lithium disilicate systems.
