I am considering veneers. I am a clincher. Is Emax or Zirconia better for me?

If you were my patient, I would recommend Zirconia.  Emax is a tiny bit more cosmetic, but not as strong as Zirconia.  I would also recommend that you get a mouth guard to be worn during the times that you clinch the most, whether at night during sleeping, or during the day during stressful times of your life.  Zirconia is very very very strong.  It is basically the same stuff that CZ's (fake diamonds) are made from.  Not as strong as a real diamond, but close enough to be a very durable tooth.   More importantly than which material is used, is the dentist that you choose to do the veneers.  Make sure the dentist has real before and after photos of his or her actual patients and make sure that you like the photos.  This will be the best indication that the dentist really knows what he or she is doing. Good luck and I hope this info helps you. Follow me if you have more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMDSt. Louis, MO Area (O'Fallon, IL)RealSelf100

Porcelain veneers with feldspathic porcelain will give you the best aesthetics, with internal build up, the preparation of the tooth by the cosmetic dentist, and the skill of master ceramist is vital for long lasting results, function and cosmetic look !Zerconia, porcelain veneers will give you an opaque looking veneers, and I do not recommend them generally, although the strength is superb.Emav porcelain veneers are great, but it depends on the original color of your teeth, and to what whiter color you want to have the final result! they do not work well if your teeth are dark and you want real white, they tend to work better when emax is used as core regular porcelain build up is placed on them, that is : the combination of EMAX core plus regular porcelain build up, and again it depends on how many shades your are trying to lighten your teeth.No matter what, I highly recommend a night guard or an occlusal guard, to be fabricated for you, after all opf your dental veneers are done!

Since you are a clencher, if you want veneers, these two materials are the strongest available today and either would be a good choice. Emax is more esthetic, but not as strong.  Traditional zirconia is about 3 times as strong as emax.  Today there is a new material, zirconia anterior.  It is more translucent than traditional zirconia and will give a more esthetic result.  The strength is between emax and traditional zirconia.  I believe this might me the best material today for patients that clench their teeth.  After your veneers are completed, you should be fitted and wear a nightguard to protect them.