Lumineers: the Versatile and Highly Aesthetic Dental Veneers

Now the Lumineers are a special brand of veneers which are also called “no preparation dental veneers”.

Dental veneers are typically thin layers or porcelain which are adhered to the surface of each tooth with a special adhesive. One of the main downsides of dental veneers in general, is that the teeth need to be trimmed down, and the natural enamel of the tooth is also damaged a little bit to help the veneers adhere better to the surface of the tooth.

Now the Lumineers are a special brand of veneers which are also called “no preparation dental veneers”. This means that there is little or no preparation such as filing or trimming of the natural tooth needed to make the veneers adhere.

With the other dental veneers, when the enamel is “scratched” to help the veneers stick to the tooth, the patients will develop a sensitivity to hot and cold. With the Lumineers since no trimming or filing is needed, there is no danger of developing sensitive teeth.

Plenty of patients who struggle with sensitive teeth choose dental veneers as a solution. The dental veneers are placed over the tooth, and thus the nerves of the sensitive tooth become more protected. Patients with sensitive teeth who got Lumineers are extremely happy with their choice, as they say they never experienced sensitiveness when drinking or consuming sweet, sour, hot or cold foods and beverages.

Dental Lumineers are advised for many dental complications such as:

• in order to cover up gaps in between teeth
• as a solution to teeth which are eroded
• to cover up badly stained teeth. Instead of exposing yourself to chemical bleaching twice per year which might destroy the enamel of your teeth, applying Lumineers is a much better solution
• to enhance aesthetically teeth which are chipped, irregular or crooked
• to enhance a smile with small teeth and plenty gaps in between
• to resolve gummy smiles. After gum contouring, in order to create a truly beautiful smile, the dentist might recommend the application of dental veneers. Since gum contouring can be a complex and invasive intervention, the dentist might generally recommend the non invasive Lumineers dental veneers.
• to enhance a prematurely aged appearance of the teeth, either because of bad staining, erosion or too many spaces between the teeth
• for lengthening teeth-many patients struggle with an advanced teeth wear, so in order to help making the teeth both more functional and aesthetic, the Lumineers might be the best solution
• creating a smile with uniform color, shape and a natural symmetry

Comparison between the Lumineers technique and traditional veneers placement:

The Traditional Dental Veneers Techniqueàfor teeth which are misshapen, stained, or crooked an impression will be taken and sent to the special dental lab. Then, the teeth will be prepared for the veneers application. This involves trimming and shaving the teeth quite severely, using a dental drill.

The dental veneers are applied, but the result is still not 100% perfect, because this is not a reversible treatment option. The period right after the procedure will come with quite a big degree of pain and discomfort to the patient, since the teeth have been severely trimmed.

The Lumineers dental veneers techniqueàfor teeth which are misshapen, badly stained, with gaps in between or other such aesthetic flaws. The special impression is taken and then the mold will be sent to the dental lab, where the special Lumineers will be designed.

The teeth are only slightly etched in order to make sure the Lumineers will fit nicely. The teeth will not be aggressively trimmed or shaven with the drill, and therefore the procedure is reversible. At any point, the Lumineers can be taken off, and the patient will have his own teeth back.

The Lumineers treatment requires only about 2 dental visits, and the patient can enjoy a new, straight and beautiful smile!

Dental Veneers Controversies

Just as with any other medical dental procedures, there are quite many opponents of dental Lumineers as well. Many dentists say that the result is an over-contoured tooth, mainly because the teeth will not be prepared before the treatment.

Thus, when the Lumineers are fitted onto a tooth that is already larger, the result will be a “bulky” tooth. Also, some dentists state that patients might struggle with discomfort and inflammation in the gums, exactly because their mouth and dental structure has to accept a more bulky set of teeth, and the veneers may not sit comfortably on the gumline. These dentists almost always opt for the traditional dental veneers, where the teeth are being prepared before treatment.

It can be easily said that the Lumineers dental veneers are not for everybody. You should visit an experienced cosmetic dentist and talk about the available options in your case.

The Lumineers belong to what is called conservative, non invasive cosmetic dental procedures. This is the main advantage of getting Lumineers, but as you can understand, there may be many drawbacks. In case your natural teeth are quite small, and you would like a bigger, more impressive smile, then Lumineers may work wonders for you.

However, in case you have got bigger teeth which are badly stained or misshapen, the regular dental veneers will work much better. Your natural teeth will be trimmed and after applying the regular preparation veneers, your smile will look more natural than it would with the Lumineers.

How about the costs of the Lumineers dental veneers?

Cosmetic dental procedures in general are expensive. Their role is to enhance your smile, to make it more beautiful. Since they are aesthetic procedures, they are not covered by dental insurance either, so you will need to pay out of pocket for the procedure. The costs of Lumineers vary greatly from one state to the other, and from one dentist to the other.

When considering dental veneers, you should better choose a specialized dental clinic, rather than a general dentist. At the dental clinic, they will be able to offer you a more affordable price, since implants and veneers represent their specialty. Per Lumineer, expect to pay anything between $900 and even up to $4,000. For a perfect Hollywood style smile, you really need to make a financial effort.

Lumineers are extremely thin ceramic sheets that will enhance a smile without much pain and discomfort. This is one of the main reasons people like to choose the Lumineers over the other available dental veneers.

A skilled cosmetic dentist will be able to offer you a thorough insight regarding which exact type of veneers is most suitable to you. Perhaps you want regular veneers, but the dentist points out that Lumineers are perfect, or vice versa.

The cost of Lumineers really depends on many factors such as the current status of your dental health, the particular tooth structure, the results you want to achieve and many other factors regarding which type of dental veneers would suit you best.

If there is no need to file down your natural teeth, and if you would like a reversible dental treatment option, then the Lumineers are suitable. If you are looking for a permanent solution, where you will not want to revert to your old set of teeth, any dental veneers with preparation will work for you.

There is a huge pool of free information available online regarding regular dental veneers and Lumineers, so make sure to research before making a decision.