Types of Dental Porcelain
A detailed comparison of different porcelain types used in dental restorations.
Dental porcelains vary significantly in composition, strength, and aesthetic properties. Feldspathic porcelain is the most traditional type, composed primarily of potassium and sodium feldspars with silica. It offers unmatched translucency and color depth, making it the material of choice for skilled ceramists creating the most lifelike anterior restorations. Leucite-reinforced porcelain (such as IPS Empress) contains leucite crystals dispersed in a glass matrix, providing improved strength over feldspathic porcelain while maintaining good aesthetics. It can be pressed or milled and is suitable for inlays, onlays, veneers, and anterior crowns where moderate strength is sufficient. Lithium disilicate (IPS e.max) represents a significant advancement, offering flexural strength approximately three times that of leucite-reinforced ceramics. Its versatility allows use in both anterior and posterior restorations. Glass-infiltrated ceramics and polycrystalline ceramics (alumina and zirconia) provide the highest strength levels for frameworks and posterior restorations, though with less inherent translucency.