The promise of whiter, straighter teeth appeals to almost everyone, except perhaps those who already are blessed with them.
Lumineers have been extensively advertised as one solution. Lumineers are porcelain veneers, made in the same way as other porcelain veneers. But the manufacturer of Lumineers claims their product is unique in that they are extremely thin, about as thin as a contact lens, and can be bonded to your teeth with no ‘prep’ work, meaning no drilling and so forth usually associated with the placement of standard porcelain veneers. Sounds good, right? Well, that depends on what’s wrong with your natural teeth. If your teeth flair in towards your tongue and need to be built outwards,
Lumineers might be the ideal solution. But for those with other issues, you may end up with teeth that feel and look unnatural. For many cosmetic dentists, the issue lies in the fact that the surface of the tooth is unprepared. They feel the prep work is essential to a natural result. With standard veneers, your cosmetic dentist can remove as little as half a millimeter from your natural tooth and replace it with the thin porcelain for a natural, non-bulky result. Aesthetically, this result cannot be achieved with the no-prep solution of Lumineers. Prep work also assists with the bonding of the veneer to the natural tooth surface, roughing up the tooth so that the veneer adheres more completely. Of course, if your cosmetic dentist chose to, he or she could complete the same prep work for Lumineeers as they would perform for standard veneers, but that would add to the cost. Skipping this step could mean trouble down the road.
According to experts like
Dr. Michael Iott, Lumineers are best suited to individuals whose teeth are tipped back or stick out a bit, because those teeth can be built up to look more even. Because of the no-prep aspect of Lumineers, the product tends to make the teeth bulkier or larger, and even a half a millimeter can feel very odd in your mouth. Additionally, a little bit of an edge might be created along the gum line where the veneer sticks out from the natural tooth, and this could lead to cleaning problems and, eventually, decay.
Many cosmetic dentists, including
Dr. Michael Iott, use a veneer lab to create contact lens-thin
porcelain veneers that are more aesthetically pleasing. These cosmetic dentists believe the prep work is worth the extra time and money to provide bright, white results that will last for many years with no problems.
Consult with your cosmetic dentist, or
contact Dr. Iott’s office today to schedule a consultation to determine if Lumineers or standard porcelain veneers are an option for you.
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