Porcelain veneers have long been the gold standard of cosmetic smile enhancements. They can hide an array of imperfections, including severe discoloration, chips, cracks, and small teeth. But they’ve got one major downfall: they require your dentist to remove about 0.5 millimeters of enamel — and maybe more with each replacement. j.
This locks you into using veneers for life and leaves your teeth more vulnerable. That’s why Lumineers are such a revolution: they don’t require enamel removal. But are they right for you? Here are the details you need to decide!
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What Are Lumineers?
In most ways, Lumineers are the same as all other veneers: they’re wafer-thin shells custom-made for individual teeth. Affixed to each tooth, they hide many concerns, including gaps, irregular sizes and shapes, discoloration, cracks, and chips, delivering an instant smile makeover.
Made by DenMat, LLC, Lumineers are a name-brand no-prep veneer. This means your dentist doesn’t need to shave down your enamel to place them (certain rare cases require them to remove a tiny amount). Your dentist takes impressions of your teeth, specifies the changes you want to make, and sends everything to DenMat, who creates the Cerinate porcelain veneers.
You can treat your Lumineers just like you would your natural teeth: brush and floss twice a day, see your dentist twice a year, and don’t use them as tools. With the right approach, they can last up to 20 years.
Lumineers vs. Veneers: What Makes Them Different?
Lumineers are, for the most part, just like other veneers. But if they didn’t have some standout features, we wouldn’t have much of an article for you. Traditional veneers have their downsides, and Lumineers were made to correct them. Here’s how they differ from standard porcelain veneers.
- Invasiveness: Porcelain veneers require the dentist to remove 0.5 millimeters. Lumineers rarely require any enamel removal, and when they do, it’s under 0.25 millimeters.
- Thickness: Typical porcelain veneers are about 0.5 millimeters thick — which is why the dentist needs to shave off that much enamel. Lumineers are about 0.2 millimeters thick, which is thin enough that even without enamel removal, they can sit pretty much flush with the rest of your teeth.
- Time Investment: Lumineers generally require fewer appointments than traditional porcelain veneers and don’t take as long to place. Additionally, if you decide you don’t want to keep up with Lumineers long-term, you can stop using them at any time. Once you get traditional veneers, you need to wear them for life.
- Cost: Traditional porcelain veneers typically cost between $925 and $2,500 per tooth. Lumineers are slightly less expensive at $800–$2,000 per tooth. This may not seem like a big difference, but if you are looking to cover multiple teeth, the savings add up quickly.
These are significant benefits, but not everything about Lumineers is perfect. First, since they are thinner, they can’t hide every imperfection. For example, deep, dark stains might still show through Lumineers, while traditional porcelain would fully mask them. Then there’s the issue of durability. With proper care, Lumineers can last 20 years or more, just like other porcelain veneers — but proper care means being a little more careful. Their thinness makes them chip more easily.
Candidates for Lumineers
Most people interested in making cosmetic dental changes are good candidates for Lumineers. Before your dentist orders them, they will complete a thorough dental exam to ensure you are a good fit. Most will want you to meet the following requirements.
- Overall Strong Oral Health: Because they go on top of the teeth, your natural teeth need to be strong enough to provide structural support. Active tooth decay is an automatic disqualifier, as is gum disease.
- Good Alignment: A misaligned bite can make your teeth gnash together, causing your Lumineers to break. Perfect alignment isn’t necessary, but your teeth need to be well enough in place that they won’t harm the Lumineers.
- No Bruxism: If your unconscious grinding and clenching affects your teeth, you can’t have Lumineers, since they might break or pop off in your sleep.
- Realistic Expectations: It’s exciting to imagine your new smile, but also remember that even though Lumineers can do a lot, they have their limitations.
Getting Lumineers
Your first step is finding a provider near you. Use their Find a Dentist feature to see all the providers within a certain radius of your location. Then, contact the doctor of your choice and set up your initial consultation.
In most cases, they’ll plan your initial consultation and planning appointment back to back on the same day. Your dentist will start with a thorough exam, ensuring you don’t have any cavities, decay, or gum disease. If everything looks good, they’ll discuss your smile goals and take notes to send to DenMat. Then they’ll take bite impressions and X-rays, which DenMat will use to create your Lumineers.
Most dentists now use LumiSmile dental imaging for Lumineers treatment. If your dentist does, you’ll also get to see a digital mock-up of your future smile, which helps instill confidence in the treatment. If you decide to move forward, your dentist will send everything to DenMat, who will produce your Lumineers.
Once your Lumineers are ready, your dentist will have you return for your second appointment. They’ll thoroughly clean your teeth and apply an antiseptic to prevent bacteria from causing cavities underneath. Then, they’ll apply dental cement to the backs of your Lumineers and press them against your teeth.
Your dentist will ensure everything looks ideal, then use a special light to cure the dental cement. They’ll remove any excess bonding, then polish your Lumineers, and you’ll go home with a brand new smile.
Alternative Treatment Options
We’ve covered everything you need to know about Lumineers and how they differ from other porcelain veneers — but now it’s time to hit pause and look at the alternatives. Before you dive into treatment, consider the options below.
Snap-On Veneers
If you like Lumineers because they’re not necessarily permanent, you might be interested in snap-on veneers. They don’t require a dentist to alter your teeth and you can remove them and reinsert them when you like.
Clear Aligners
If you’re considering Lumineers to close a gap or hide misalignments, you might be better off physically correcting them. Clear aligners are essentially invisible in your mouth and you can choose from in-office treatments like Invisalign or at-home ones like Byte.
Teeth Whitening
For those who want Lumineers to hide stains, actually removing them might be the better choice. Even if you have intense stains, professional systems like KöR can treat them.
Teeth Contouring
If you want Lumineers to alter your tooth shape, you can change their shape without veneers. Teeth contouring shaves small amounts off the teeth to alter how they look.
Final Thoughts
Lumineers can be an excellent cosmetic dental treatment for people looking to enhance their smile without having enamel removed. Unlike most other no-prep veneers, they’re made from strong porcelain, not composite material. However, they have their downsides, especially when compared to the strength and opacity of traditional porcelain veneers.
Before settling on a specific treatment, research all your options. You might discover that an alternative treatment is more ideal for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest difference between traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers?
Lumineers don’t require enamel removal in most cases, and when they do, it’s minimal. This means the tooth retains its integrity and you can choose to stop wearing Lumineers at any point. Traditional veneers require the dentist to shave down your enamel before placing them, so you’ll have them for life.
Can Lumineers be removed?
Yes, but don’t attempt it yourself. To avoid damage, you’ll need to have them removed by a professional. If you needed enamel removed for your Lumineers, your dentist will determine if you need a bit of bonding to cover the teeth or if you can just go au natural.
Does getting Lumineers hurt?
It’s normal to feel some sensitivity and gum irritation after they are placed. However, it shouldn’t be genuinely painful. Most people find these sensations go away within a day or two. If yours hurt or the odd sensations last more than five days, contact your dentist.
How much do Lumineers cost?
Lumineers have an average price range of $800–$2,000 per tooth. This is slightly cheaper than traditional porcelain veneers, but a lot more than composite ones. Be sure to work out the cost for all the teeth you want to treat rather than just the price per tooth before making your decision.
How long do Lumineers last?
According to DenMat and many Lumineers providers, they can last 20 years or more. However, many other sources say the lifespan is more like 7–15 years. The discrepancy here is probably because DenMat and dentists focus on how long they can last with proper care, while the other sources are likely looking at how long they last with average use.
Are Lumineers safe?
Yes, they’re widely considered safe. In fact, many see them as safer than other types of veneers because they require little to no enamel removal. This leaves the teeth stronger and less likely to develop tooth decay, chips, and cracks.
Which dental issues can Lumineers address?
They can cover most aesthetic issues — but don’t count on them to correct structural ones. Large chips that make the tooth too small for veneers need crowns, and Lumineers are slightly transparent, so they aren’t best for severe stains.
Can I still eat sticky foods or chew gum with Lumineers?
Yes, but it’s best to keep them away from your veneers, as well as any other dental work that is cemented in place. This is because they can pull on the veneers (and crowns and fillings), loosening them over time.
Are there any other Lumineers?
There are other no-prep veneers, but Lumineers are the only ones that use Cerinate porcelain. This is a proprietary material developed and exclusively used by DenMat. This material is what makes Lumineers so notable, because their strength is so similar to traditional porcelain veneers. Other options are slightly weaker and less durable.
Is it easy to find a dentist offering Lumineers?
Yes, they are widely available and you can use the Lumineers “Find a Dentist” page to locate providers near you.
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