A Comparative Study of Zirconia and Lithium Disilicate (E-Max) Preferences Among Dental Practitioners in Western Libya

Purpose: This study investigated comparative preferences between all-zirconia, layered zirconia, and lithium disilicate materials among dental practitioners in four western Libyan cities. 
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered to 133 dentists and dental technicians in Misurata, Tripoli, Zawiya, and Sabratha between August and September 2022. The survey assessed material preferences for single-unit crowns on a posterior tooth (#19) and an anterior tooth (#8), alongside demographic and professional characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with chi-square tests determining statistical significance (p<0.05). 
Results: Of 133 distributed questionnaires, 113 (85.0%) were completed and included in analysis. For posterior tooth #19, 73.5% preferred all-zirconia, 15.9% layered zirconia, and 10.6% lithium disilicate. For anterior tooth #8, preferences shifted dramatically: lithium disilicate was favored by 66.4%, followed by all-zirconia (18.6%) and layered zirconia (15.0%). Significant inter-city variations were observed (p<0.001), with Zawiya practitioners demonstrating higher utilization of lithium disilicate for anterior restorations and layered zirconia for both regions compared to other cities. Most respondents (67.8%) cited mechanical strength as the primary factor for posterior material selection, while 31.4% prioritized aesthetic properties for anterior restorations. 
Conclusion: Libyan dental practitioners demonstrate distinct material selection patterns based on tooth location, favoring all-zirconia for posterior regions and lithium disilicate for anterior aesthetics. However, knowledge disparities exist between cities, indicating need for standardized continuing education on material properties and clinical indications. (Open J Biomed Res 2025;4:2-6)