Veneers VS Lumineers: The Main Differences

 

A smile is the first thing someone notices on you. That is why a beautiful smile gives a nice touch to social interaction. But, most people are unsatisfied with their natural smile. Pigmentation, gaps between teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and stained teeth are just some of the problems that make your smile less attractive.

Cosmetic dentistry offers a solution to having the smile you want and improving your appearance. In all these cases Lumineers and Veneers are the most common solutions for cosmetic problems with teeth. In this article, we will analyze and explain the main differences between these cosmetic procedures.

 

Dental Veneers: All You Have to Know

 

What Are Dental Veneers (Porcelain Veneers)?

Dental Veneers or porcelain veneers are thin layers of material permanently places over teeth aiming to cover all imperfections. Veneers cover the tooth’s surface and subtly wrap around the sides and biting edge of the tooth. When getting multiple veneers, each tooth is prepped thoroughly before the fabrication and placement of the veneer. Porcelain veneers are made in a lab, the exact measurements and pecs of the veneer mimic natural enamel using multiple layers of porcelain. You can fully customize the size, color, shape, and fit.

Dental Veneers are a cosmetic procedure that can enhance your smile by applying them on one tooth, more than one tooth, or all of them.

 

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain Veneers can correct many dental imperfections and give you the perfect look that you want. A candidate for this procedure needs to have good dental health, which means having healthy gums and teeth.

If you have some of these problems and you want to correct them you can be a good candidate for porcelain veneers:

• Misshapen teeth;
• The large gap between teeth;
• Small teeth;
• Problem with the color of your teeth;
• You want to correct some previous work on your teeth

If you have some dental issues, you need to solve these problems before applying veneers. They are not a good choice for those who grind their teeth, because that is the way to damage them.

The best way to know if you are a good candidate for porcelain veneers is to schedule a consultation with your dentist.

Preparation and Application Process

 

Application of Porcelain Veneers requires more than one visit to the dental office.

First, a preliminary appointment is here to discuss all your expectation and to find the best solution for your desired smile. In most cases, in this phase, your dentist will make an x-ray as the best way to check the health of your teeth, especially in situations where you previously had some problem with teeth roots.

If everything is ok, the next step is teeth preparation by removing a small amount of your tooth surface area to make space for veneers. It is usually about 1\2 mm of enamel from the front and sides of the teeth. After that, the dentist will make a mold of the prepared teeth and send it to the lab mods to prepare custom veneers for a patient. This will take about 2 weeks, and during this period patient will get temporary veneers.

NYC Dental clinic, Madison Avenue Smiles, has an on-site dental lab that provides patients with thorough and convenient dental services. With our dental laboratory, the process of making veneers is faster and you won’t wait long for your perfect smile. In this phase, the appropriate shade and color of your veneers will be chosen.

At the next appointment, the dentist will apply veneers on your prepared teeth and look over the fit and shape. After everything is checked and perfectly done, the veneers are permanently bonded with a low amount of materials to hold the veneers in place.

 

Longevity of Porcelain Veneers

 

The longevity of Porcelain Veneers depends a lot on how you take care of them and your dental health. Typically they last about 10 years. In some cases, they last about 20 years.

To prolong the longevity of your veneers avoids chewing hard objects such as pencil, ice, and fingernails. Also do not try to open some packaging with your teeth. The most important is to keep clean your teeth every day to prevent some problems with gums and to prevent developing cavities under the veneers.

 

The Cost of Dental Veneers

 

Dental Veneers’ cost depends on several factors such as the type of veneer you choose, size, used material, type of treatment, and on previous dental issues. Usually, porcelain veneers cost between $1500 and $3500 per tooth. Insurance typically does not cover the cost because it is considered a cosmetic procedure.

If you want to estimate the cost of the dental veneers schedule a FREE consultation with our dentist and find the best payment method for you.

 

Lumineers: All You Have to Know

 

Lumineers are brand-name porcelain veneers specially designed by DenMat Lab in Lompoc, California, US. Lumineers are widely used in cosmetic dentistry to solve cosmetic problems and to give patients perfect smiles.

What Are Lumineers?

 

Lumineers are most often called no-prep veneers because they do not require as much preparation work as traditional porcelain veneers. Lumineers are designed digitally to be ultra-thin, usually, they are compared with contact lenses. They are created to follow the original structure of the teeth and to cover all imperfections without removing tooth enamel.

Lumineer offers you the opportunity to get the perfect smile with less previous prep work and gives you chance to remove them without losing the structure of your original teeth.

 

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Lumineers?

 

The Ideal Candidate for Lumineers needs to have good oral health and generally preserved structure of their original teeth.

If you want to solve some of these problems you can be a good candidate for lumineers:

• Gap correction;
• Enhance symmetry;
• Adjust misaligned teeth;
• Discolored teeth;
• Restore chips;
• Revise crooked teeth;
• Unusually shaped teeth.

Preparation and Application Process

 

Lumineers’ procedure usually requires two visits to the dentist’s office to be placed without pain and with a minimally invasive process. The preparation and application are less complicated compared to traditional porcelain veneers.

At the first appointment, your dentist will make a general overview of your teeth, to check that you are a good candidate for lumineers. If everything is ok, your dentist will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth and send them to the dental lab to make your Lumineers. Madison Avenue Smile dental office in New York has an on-site dental lab that provides patients with thorough and convenient dental services. In our laboratory, we use the most advanced technology available, to offer the extra fast result to our patients.

On your second appointment, the dentist will place lumineers and make all necessary adjustments and you will leave the dentist’s office with a beautiful smile.

 

Longevity of Lumineers

 

Lumineers may last about 20 years. They can last as long as traditional veneers. That is a claim supported by manufacturers of this veneer brand. The longevity of Lumineers depends on proper dental health care and your eating and chewing habits.

 

The Cost of Lumineers

 

The price of Lumineers is between $1500 and $2,500 per tooth, and they are considered cheaper than traditional porcelain veneers. As for most cosmetic dental procedures, lumineers are not covered by insurance.

You can always call us and make an appointment with our team to find the best payment model for you, to get the smile that you want.

 

Comparison of Porcelain Veneers and Lumineers

 

Although both, veneers and lumineers are used to solve the same dental issue there are differences between veneers and lumineers. The Lumineers are much thinner and require less preparation than the porcelain veneers. The procedure is less invasive and there is no need for local anesthesia. With Lumineers your natural teeth structure stays the same, and after some time you can pull them off and stay with your own smile. On the other hand, porcelain veneers are permanent and you can only change them with a new one.

Porcelain Veneers – Pros and Cons

 

Porcelain Veneers – Pros

• Traditional veneers are long-lasting, about 20 years;
• The offered variety of shades can make your teeth appear whiter or achieve a more natural look;
• Resistant to stubborn stains;

Porcelain Veneers – Cons

• The prep work can be long and more invasive;
• With traditional veneers you can not get back your natural teeth;
• Traditional veneers can be more expensive;

 

Lumineers – Pros and Cons

 

Lumineers – Pros

• Require less prep work;
• Lumineers can be removed;
• Lumineers cost less than traditional veneers;
• The structure of natural teeth remains the same after procedures;
• Less invasive and painless treatment compares to traditional veneers;

Lumineers – Cons

• Lumineers may not be natural as porcelain veneers;
• Impermanent- Lumineers are less lasting than porcelain veneers;
• Lumineers can not cover all imperfections such as damaged teeth;
• In some situations, they can fall off the natural tooth;

 

Conclusion

 

It’s not easy deciding to have any dental treatment, especially if that treatment will permanently change your teeth. Both, porcelain veneers and lumineers can help you to improve your teeth’ appearance. Your dentist can help you decide to choose veneers or lumineers based on your dental health, financial state, and expectations.

If you are from NYC and thinking about veneers or lumineers procedures, call 212-593-2868 or fill out the contact form to schedule a FREE consultation with our experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Ceccacci.