When you have a beautiful smile, it doesn’t just look great but also helps you feel your best. That’s because your smile is one of the first features people notice, and when it looks its best, you feel more attractive and confident.
Unfortunately, few people have naturally perfect smiles. Most have cosmetic issues that make smiles look less than perfect. The good news is that porcelain veneers and Lumineers® can both help. The key is knowing which option is the better choice for your goals.
Marvin Taylor, DDS, offers both traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers for patients at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center, helping every patient find the solution that works best for them. Here, learn how veneers and Lumineers work so you can make an informed decision.
Traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers can dramatically improve the way your smile looks, and they both “work” in similar ways. Both options can treat an array of cosmetic concerns, including:
Depending on your needs and goals, you can choose to have a single restoration or have several applied at a single visit for a more dramatic, “whole-smile” treatment.
We place the porcelain veneers and Lumineers on your visible teeth that show when you smile. Unlike a dental crown surrounding the entire tooth, a veneer or Lumineer is applied to the tooth surface using a strong dental adhesive. Once in place, it’s shaped to blend in perfectly.
Porcelain veneers and Lumineers each require two office visits — one to prepare the tooth and take a mold and one to place the final restoration on the tooth surface. The primary difference between traditional veneers and Lumineers is their design: While both consist of porcelain, Lumineers are significantly thinner than customary porcelain veneers, which may make one option slightly preferable for specific applications.
Lumineers consist of cerinate porcelain, a special kind of porcelain that supports their thinner design. Their thin design makes them appear more luminous, providing light reflection almost identical to your natural teeth.
Because they’re so thin, Lumineers typically don’t require extensive tooth preparation. While traditional veneers require us to remove a small amount of tooth material to provide room for the veneer, Lumineers usually can be placed directly on the tooth surface, so preparation is faster. Lumineers can also be “reversed” if, for some reason, you prefer to return to your natural tooth.
Those differences aside, the thin design of Lumineers means they may not provide the coverage you need to correct the appearance of a deeply stained or discolored tooth. They also might not be ideal for larger chips or more significant gaps between teeth. In these instances, the thicker design of a traditional veneer provides the coverage and support you need for a perfect restoration.
Most importantly, both Lumineers and traditional porcelain veneers can give you the beautiful smile you want, and both last for more than a decade with proper care. Our team can help you decide the best option based on your oral health needs and goals.
A new year is the perfect time to prioritize your goals, including having a more beautiful smile. To learn more about porcelain veneers, Lumineers, and other state-of-the-art treatments, call 248-681-8100 today or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan.
