If you have broken, pitted, chipped, or stained teeth or an unsightly gap, veneers and Lumineers are two great solutions that can help you achieve a flawless smile. Both options are thin porcelain coverings that are permanently bonded to your teeth by a dentist to make them appear whiter and straighter.
Both traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers require more than one office visit. They are fabricated from a mold taken by your dentist of your teeth, and then the mold is sent to a lab to be created for your teeth.
Porcelain veneers and Lumineers are designed to match the color and shape of your natural teeth and are typically long-lasting. They can last for decades with proper oral hygiene and dental care.
What Are the Differences Between Lumineers and Veneers?
Although both porcelain veneers and Lumineers can be used to treat the same dental issues, there are some differences worth considering:
Preparation
Traditional porcelain veneers are thin and durable, but Lumineers are even thinner. This means they require less preparation and are quicker to apply than traditional porcelain veneers.
With veneers, a small amount of the tooth’s surface must be removed to allow room for the veneer to fit around the tooth. A temporary acrylic veneer may be worn while the veneers are being made.
The dental lab will fabricate the veneers or Lumineers, which can take 2 to 4 weeks. Once back from the lab, your dentist will adhere the veneers or the Lumineers to the teeth. The procedure for Lumineers is much quicker, because there is minimal preparation time and temporary veneers are not usually required.
One thing to note is that you may only need several veneers to be done, whereas Lumineers generally require fitting of many teeth – both top teeth and bottom teeth. Porcelain veneers are also not translucent as Lumineers are, so veneers are able to cover flaws perfectly and without see-through. Many dentists consider porcelain veneers to be a higher-quality product.
Permanence
Porcelain veneers are deemed as a permanent treatment option as compared to that of Lumineers, because some of the tooth’s surface is removed for fitting veneers. Lumineers require little to no tooth reduction, and they can therefore be reversed in the future if desired.
Appearance
Lumineers are translucent and are thinner than veneers are. Lumineers may therefore not be as good of an option as porcelain veneers for people who have severely discolored teeth, because the color will show through slightly. Broken or chipped teeth, smaller-than-average teeth, discolored teeth, and unusually shaped teeth are invisible behind traditional veneers.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Minneapolis-St. Paul
Both Lumineers and traditional porcelain veneers can effectively correct many dental issues and give you the desired smile and confidence you deserve. To learn more about veneers and other cosmetic dental treatment options, schedule a consultation at Hagerman Dental Care. We use the most advanced procedures to help you achieve the smile you have always wanted.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hagerman, call us today at (651) 646-2392 or you can request an appointment by filling out our online form. We look forward to seeing you!