What Lumineers Can Do for You

Lumineers can address many of the same cosmetic concerns as traditional porcelain veneers. This includes:

  • Whitening teeth
  • Lengthening teeth
  • Repairing Teeth
  • Straightening teeth
  • Closing gaps

And more in some situations.
Lumineers can brighten your smile to any level you desire. Your natural teeth are limited by the characteristics of your enamel and the layers within the teeth, but with Lumineers, you can choose how white you want them to be.

Whether you’ve always had short teeth or they’ve been worn down over time, Lumineers can lengthen teeth to give you a more noticeable smile. Lumineers can also repair minor damage such as chips that are visible when you smile.

Lumineers can also do some of the work of orthodontics. Your teeth can be straightened, and Lumineers can close small gaps in your smile, including getting rid of black triangles.

Benefits of Lumineers

Lumineers are a popular variation on porcelain veneers. They’re popular because they:

  • Are very attractive
  • Don’t require us to remove tooth enamel
  • Have a lower risk of tooth sensitivity
  • Can be reversible
  • Take only two visits
  • Are highly durable

Lumineers are made of a ceramic that closely mimics the appearance of natural tooth enamel. They have the luster of tooth enamel, so people won’t see them and think your smile looks fake.

The biggest difference between Lumineers and traditional veneers is that traditional veneers require us to remove tooth enamel to make room for the veneers. Sometimes, Lumineers can be placed without removing enamel. Tooth enamel is precious: it’s irreplaceable, so many people think this alone makes Lumineers a better choice.

There are also benefits to not removing tooth enamel. Without removing tooth enamel, you’re less likely to experience tooth sensitivity. Additionally, if no enamel is removed, you can decide to just remove your Lumineers and go back to your natural smile, something you can’t do with traditional veneers.

Without the need for a preparation visit, the Lumineers process is streamlined and takes only two visits.

However, for those two visits, you can get a lot of mileage. Studies show that most Lumineers last up to 20 years once placed.

What Are Lumineers?

Lumineers are a variation on the porcelain veneers procedure. Veneers are thin sheets of porcelain that are bonded to the front of your teeth to improve their color, shape, and configuration.

Lumineers are similar to other veneers, but with slight variations to make it so they can improve the appearance of your teeth without being too thick. This means that we can add them to the front of your teeth without making the teeth look bulky. They are also less translucent, which means they can whiten teeth and not show the darker tooth underneath despite their thinness.

Are Lumineers Right for You?

Although Lumineers are an alternative to porcelain veneers, there are some differences. Lumineers aren’t right for all the same people as traditional veneers. People might be good candidates for Lumineers if they:

  • Have healthy teeth
  • Don’t have bite issues like TMJ or bruxism
  • Don’t need dramatic changes to teeth
  • Have small to average size teeth

All cosmetic dentistry is best for people with healthy teeth. With traditional porcelain veneers, some amount of decay can be removed, but if there’s any decay under Lumineers, it can be problematic.

Lumineers are strong, but they are especially vulnerable to an unbalanced bite. Bite problems like TMJ or bruxism can quickly damage Lumineers.

The thinness of Lumineers can become an issue for people with very dark teeth or who are trying to build up or reshape teeth. In these cases, traditional veneers are best.

Although Lumineers are thin, they still add thickness to your natural teeth. This means that if you already have large teeth, they might look too large after adding Lumineers. So you’re best off getting Lumineers if your teeth are already average size or smaller.

Let Dr. Siegel Recommend the Best Veneers in Philadelphia

So are Lumineers or traditional veneers best for you? The way to find out is to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Siegel. He will evaluate your teeth and your cosmetic goals and help you decide which is the right treatment to achieve the results you want.

Please call (610) 272-0828 today to schedule an appointment at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell, helping people across Montgomery County enjoy beautiful smiles.