Lithium Disilicate
Properties and applications of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic.
Lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5) is a glass-ceramic material that has become one of the most popular and versatile materials in modern restorative dentistry. Marketed primarily as IPS e.max by Ivoclar Vivadent, it offers an exceptional combination of strength and aesthetics that makes it suitable for a wide range of clinical applications. With a flexural strength of 360-400 MPa, lithium disilicate is significantly stronger than feldspathic and leucite-reinforced porcelain, allowing its use in both anterior and posterior single-unit restorations. Its glass-ceramic structure provides excellent translucency and lifelike aesthetics, and it can be further enhanced by adding a feldspathic porcelain layering for the most demanding aesthetic cases. Lithium disilicate is available in both pressable (e.max Press) and millable (e.max CAD) forms, accommodating both traditional laboratory techniques and modern CAD/CAM workflows. It bonds excellently to tooth structure using hydrofluoric acid etching and silane coupling, which contributes to its clinical success. Applications include veneers, inlays, onlays, anterior and posterior crowns, and three-unit anterior bridges.