In addition to a more natural look, one of the most attractive benefits of Lumineers is that there is no need for local anesthesia during your procedure! Since you do not need any tooth structure removed, you can rest easy & do not need to worry about pain or shots. This is a rare benefit that is not found in many restorative or cosmetic dental services. If you are averse to needles or simply have dental anxiety, Lumineers are a great way to upgrade your smile without fear.
What Are Lumineers®?
Though regular veneers are known for requiring less preparation & tooth removal than dental crowns, they still involve some level of dental intrusion. By contrast, Lumineers don’t require any tooth structure removal at all. Because they are made of a thinner, more durable kind of porcelain, they can slide over your original tooth without adding too much extra bulk.
Advantage of Lumineers
Ordinary veneers have a minimum thickness of 0.5mm while Lumineers can be as thin as 0.2–0.3mm. The difference may seem insignificant, but it actually makes a huge difference when it comes to the look of your teeth. Even just a few too many fractions of a millimeter added to your teeth can create an awkward, artificial looking smile. This is why dentists have to shave down a tooth before it can get a veneer. Because they are smaller than regular veneers, Lumineers® reduce or eliminate the likelihood of an unnatural look.
Another advantage of Lumineers is that you won’t need to wear temporary veneers while you wait for your permanent veneers to be milled by the dental lab. After an initial old-fashioned veneer appointment, you need to wear temporaries until your next appointment in order to protect your now-sensitive tooth & to cover up its misshapen appearance. These temporaries are not custom-made by a dental lab & may not blend well with your smile. As a result, many patients are dissatisfied with the look & feel of temporary veneers.
Procedure Overview
Your first Lumineers appointment is faster, simpler & will not leave you with unsightly teeth & temporaries. All we need is a dental impression to send to a Lumineers lab. When your ultra thin veneer is ready a couple weeks later, we will have you come back to get it attached.
Lumineers attach more strongly to your teeth than ordinary veneers. This is because they don’t require any tooth trimming. When a dentist removes enamel to attach veneers, there is a risk of exposing dentin, the inner structure of the tooth. Veneers do not bond nearly as well to dentin as they do to enamel. Since you do not have to worry about exposed dentin with Lumineers, you can be sure that your restoration is secure.
Lumineers are very durable, but you still need to take good care of them if you want them to last. We can advise you about what foods you should avoid. You also need to maintain a high level of oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day, flossing at least once a day & coming to us for your regularly scheduled checkups. With proper care, your Lumineers can last well over ten years.
