Faced with the new aesthetic requirements of the patient population, new "cosmetic" ceramic materials have been developed with the aim of replacing the metal framework of prosthetic restorations, especially in the anterior sector. IPS Empress, a ceramic reinforced with leucite, seems to meet the specifications for aesthetic restorations. The material allows the production of single crowns without metal framework, with translucency and aesthetic rendering close to the natural tooth. When the principles of preparation and the bonding, which contributes to the strengthening of the ceramic, are well followed, the system offers a valid alternative to traditional ceramic-metal crowns.