What IPS e.max CAD is and how we process it
IPS e.max CAD is a lithium disilicate (LS2) glass-ceramic block for CAD/CAM, made by Ivoclar in Schaan, Liechtenstein. It is part of the IPS e.max system with e.max Press ingots and e.max ZirCAD zirconia.
We mill the block in its blue intermediate state (about 130 MPa, fast and gentle on tools), then crystallize it to reach final strength, shade and translucency. Finishing options per Ivoclar:
- Polished in the blue state and then crystallized, with no glaze.
- Glazed, or stained and glazed, and crystallized in the same firing.
- Crystallized, then cut back incisally and layered with IPS e.max Ceram for anterior cases needing individual incisal effects.
Indications and limits
- Crowns in the anterior and posterior region, including 1 mm minimally invasive crowns.
- Veneers from 0.4 mm and occlusal veneers (table tops) from 1.0 mm.
- Inlays, onlays and partial crowns.
- 3-unit bridges in the anterior and posterior region, with the second premolar as the terminal abutment. For molar abutments we suggest zirconia.
- Implant-supported single-tooth hybrid restorations: hybrid abutments and screw-retained hybrid abutment crowns, anterior and posterior.
For implant work, the e.max CAD abutment blocks (A14 and A16, in LT or MO) have a prefabricated interface for the Viteo Base Ti or Dentsply Sirona TiBase titanium bonding base. We bond the ceramic to the base extraorally and ship a finished part.
Strength and block selection
Ivoclar states a mean biaxial flexural strength of 530 MPa (more than 10 years of continuous quality testing, Ivoclar R&D) and a fracture toughness of 2.11 MPa·m½. The blocks come in four translucency levels plus the opalescent Impulse version:
| Block | Indications per brochure | Shades |
|---|
| HT: high translucency | Thin and occlusal veneers, veneers, inlays, onlays, partial crowns, crowns, 3-unit bridges | 20 (4 BL, 16 A–D) |
| MT: medium translucency, brighter than HT | Thin and occlusal veneers, veneers, partial crowns, crowns | 7 |
| LT: brightness and chroma | Veneers, partial crowns, crowns, bridges, hybrid abutments and hybrid abutment crowns | 20 (4 BL, 16 A–D) |
| MO: medium opacity, masks discoloured preps | Frameworks on lightly discoloured dies, crowns up to the second premolar, hybrid abutments | 5 (MO 0–MO 4) |
| Impulse: opalescent | Thin and occlusal veneers, veneers | 2 (Opal 1, Opal 2) |
Minimum thickness and cementation
Crown wall thickness depends on the cementation method, so tell us before we design:
- Adhesive cementation: crowns can be as thin as 1 mm, anterior and posterior. 1 mm minimally invasive crowns must be bonded adhesively.
- Self-adhesive or conventional cementation: anterior crowns at least 1.2 mm with 1.5 mm in the incisal third; posterior crowns at least 1.5 mm.
- Veneers, occlusal veneers, inlays, onlays and partial crowns: adhesive cementation only.
Ivoclar suggests Monobond Etch & Prime with Variolink Esthetic for adhesive cementation, SpeedCEM Plus for self-adhesive and ZirCAD Cem for conventional cementation. Hybrid abutments are bonded to the titanium base with Multilink Hybrid Abutment in the lab.
e.max CAD or e.max Press?
Both are Ivoclar lithium disilicate, processed differently: e.max CAD is milled and crystallized, while IPS e.max Press is pressed from an ingot after a wax-up and investment. Ivoclar positions e.max CAD for fast digital workflows and e.max Press for complex layering or highly individualized restorations.
- e.max CAD for scanned cases with a clear form (single crowns, inlays, onlays) and hybrid abutments on a titanium base. Stated flexural strength 530 MPa; in-lab time 1.5–5 working days.
- e.max Press for very thin veneers (the e.max Press instructions allow 0.3 mm), anatomy best shaped by hand in wax, or the polychromatic e.max Press Multi ingot. Stated flexural strength 470 MPa; in-lab time 2.5–4 working days.
See our e.max inlay, onlay and overlay case study and the dental ceramic materials comparison.
Ordering e.max CAD from Khai Nguyen
Upload the scan with your prescription; we design, mill, crystallize and finish in-house. In-lab time is 1.5–5 working days depending on the restoration and number of units, then DHL Express delivers in 2–4 days. See turnaround time and shipping for appointment planning. With the case, please include:
- Restoration type, tooth numbers, target VITA shade, stump shade and shade photos (for discoloured preparations we consider MO or LT).
- The planned cementation method, which sets the minimum wall thickness.
- For hybrid abutments: implant system and titanium base.
If you mill in-house, our dental CAD design service returns the design file in 12 hours (24 hours for All-on-X). The lab is ISO 13485 certified and works Monday to Saturday, 08:00–19:00 (GMT+7). Warranty terms range from 6 months to 15 years depending on the material; see our policies. To send a case, follow the ordering process or contact Khai Nguyen.
Technical values come from the IPS e.max CAD/ZirCAD brochure (2024), Ivoclar’s CAD/CAM brochure (2023) and Ivoclar’s official IPS e.max CAD product page. This page is written for dentists and dental technicians. Khai Nguyen Dental Lab fabricates restorations only on professional prescription and does not sell directly to patients.
