Veneers Vs. Lumineers®: Which Is Better?
Veneers are a treatment solution dentists use to hide discolored and broken teeth, making them appear glossy and white. Conventionally porcelain material helps make veneers that require significant preparation to get your teeth ready for placement.
An alternative for veneers called Lumineers® is a brand offered by some dentists and created by the DenMat dental laboratory. Lumineers are thinner, faster to apply, and more affordable.
Choosing suitable veneers is not as simple as imagined. This article reviews the variances between porcelain veneers and Lumineers To help you understand the pros and cons of both varieties.
Traditional Porcelain Veneers
Veneers near you are cosmetic coatings for your natural teeth. Traditional porcelain veneers allow you to show off perfect teeth appearing bright, glossy, and white. As they are not porous like tooth enamel, they are resistant to staining. However, the veneer edges meeting the tooth may stain after five years.
You might find porcelain veneers appropriate if you have broken and severely stained teeth. Broken or chipped teeth, tinier than average teeth, and uneven teeth hide behind traditional facades.
Lengthy Preparation and Application Process
The application of traditional veneers requires at least three appointments with the dentist in Shalimar, FL, to prepare and place the surfaces. After your initial consultation, the dentist grinds the surface of your teeth in preparation for the veneers. The grinding is to make space for the veneers over your teeth.
After the grinding, the dentist makes impressions of your teeth for the dental laboratory to custom fabricate your porcelain veneers from mold. The dental laboratory requires three weeks to prepare shells and send them to the dentist. Your initial appointments require several hours. After receiving your veneers from the dental laboratory, the dentist will cement them to your prepared teeth using a bonding solution.
After getting the veneers, you can expect them to last for 10 – 15 years or more if you take good care of them. However, traditional veneers are permanent because your natural tooth enamel is compromised. Furthermore, they make it challenging to reach your gum line, increasing the risk of gum disease.
Traditional veneers cost between $925 – $2500 per tooth. However, if you need veneers for several teeth, you might receive a discount from dental veneers in Shalimar, FL.
Lumineers Teeth
Lumineers are a brand of veneers requiring less preparation and advanced dental work than traditional veneers. Lumineers are ultra-thin laminate instead of porcelain.
The transparency of Lumineers is higher than traditional porcelain veneers. They are also thinner, making them ideal for people with severely discolored teeth. Dentists suggest Lumineers to treat discolored and unusually shaped teeth.
Unlike traditional porcelain veneers, Lumineers do not need enamel removal for placement because of their thinner structure. Instead, your dentist has a customized set of Lumineers created for your unique treatment needs.
Lumineers require two appointments with your dentist before getting customized placements over your teeth—the dentist impressions your teeth during the first appointment for the manufacturer DenMat laboratories to fabricate your placements. You can expect them in approximately 2 – 4 weeks.
Unlike traditional porcelain veneers, you don’t require temporary veneers while waiting for your permanent placements. After they are ready, you can revisit the dentist to have them bonded to your teeth.
Lumineers are not permanent like traditional porcelain veneers, and you can remove them with minimal damage to your teeth. However, you might find it challenging to clean around your gum line, increasing your chances of gum disease.
Lumineers have a shorter lifespan than porcelain veneers lasting between 7 – 10 years before needing replacements from independent state sources, while the manufacturers claim Lumineers last for 20 years.
The price for Lumineers is $800 – $2000 per tooth. Unfortunately, your dental insurance will not cover these treatments because they don’t consider elective cosmetic dental treatments necessary.
Traditional veneers and Lumineers are excellent solutions to fix dental flaws that impact your smile. Which option is best suited for your needs will depend on your teeth’ condition that needs treatment, your dentist’s expertise, and your budget. However, if you consider that veneers last longer than Lumineers which require faster replacements, you might consider them optimal because they last for a lifetime and are a permanent solution.
If you think you need veneers to cover dental flaws, kindly do not hesitate to contact Complete Health Dentistry of the Emerald Coast to have the surfaces you need to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.