The Difference Between Veneers and Lumineers

So you feel shy to smile and communicate in a social environment! Perhaps, your teeth are a bit slanted. Maybe, there are some gaps between your teeth. No matter the reason, any such dental flaw can hamper your looks and lower your confidence. However, you may fix this dental condition, thanks to veneers and Lumineers.

Each of these dental procedures can enhance your smile and fix many dental flaws. Yet, there is a difference between veneers and Lumineers. It’s best to get familiar with the differences to choose an ideal procedure matching your needs.

Veneers

 

Dental Veneers are usually made by two kinds of materials (Porcelain and Composites). However, porcelain veneers are a preferred option over composites. Porcelain veneers are comparatively durable and present a more natural-looking appearance. They conceal dental imperfections and let you enjoy a natural-looking smile like you’ve always wished for. Made out of a top quality ceramic, each veneer is tailor made to match the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth.

lumineer

Lumineers

 

Lumineers are an improvement over porcelain veneers. They’re made out of cerinate ceramics – a very thin material that mostly eliminates the need for injections or drilling without compromising the longevity of your restoration. Lumineers do the same function as porcelain veneers and offer the same benefits to the patient. However, they often require zero tooth preparation, thus conserving the entirety of your natural dentures.

The difference between Veneers and Lumineers

Both veneers and Lumineers are used to address similar dental issues. However, there are certain differences between them. Let’s understand the main differences between the two procedures.

Preparation

Veneers have been around for a long time and are designed to flatter the shape, size, color, and translucency of your teeth elegantly. To prep dentures for veneers, the tooth structure is drilled away so that there’s some room for the placement and bonding of veneers to the teeth. Due to the invasive nature of veneers, many patients feel uncomfortable and look for an alternative (Lumineers).

Also called no-prep veneers, Lumineers warrant minimal preparation of the tooth enamel. Lumineers are a lot thinner than veneers. In most cases, they’re less than half the size of the veneers. Even a modest shape of 0.3 mm of Lumineers is quite thinner compared to a 0.5 mm veneers. It’s this thinness that allows Lumineers to be placed and bonded with the teeth without peeling the enamel.

Light cleaning and sanding may be necessary in some cases to prep the teeth for placing thin Lumineers. No anesthesia or shots are given to the patient. Also, there’s minimal sensitivity or discomfort. Above all, the patient isn’t required to place acrylic temporaries between dental visits.

Application

Lumineers and veneers are applied to the dentures in much the same way. After customizing the shells for your teeth and smile, they’re temporarily put in place to review their appearance and placement. However, veneers are a bit thicker.

The dentist will remove some of the enamel by shaving the tooth to make room to apply the veneer so that it aligns well with the neighboring teeth. Once the tooth enamel is removed, it’s gone forever and for good. You’ll always need a cover for that tooth. In a nutshell, the application of veneers can’t be reversed.

Lumineers are fairly thin; their application is far easy. The dentist doesn’t have to shave your tooth enamel to apply the Lumineer in place. This means if you change your mind and want to remove the Lumineer, you can have it removed without any issue. Since no tooth enamel is removed, Lumineers are reversible.

Appearance

One particular area where veneers outdo Lumineers is teeth appearance. Natural dentures reflect light. Without light reflection, your smile will look fake. The customized, translucent nature of porcelain veneers aligns with your teeth reflection, giving you a bright, natural smile.

Lumineers, on the other hand, lack this translucency feature. While they’re very thin, they’re opaque. They just don’t line up with your teeth and fall flat when you smile. If someone identifies this point, they can figure out that your teeth have some sort of imperfections that you’re hiding.

Longevity

Veneers can last for about a decade with proper care and attention. However, most patients may need to replace them after a few years. Lumineers, on the other hand, can last for about 20 years. Although they’re very thin, Lumineers are highly durable compared to Veneers.

Cost

Veneers are highly cost-effective. On the flip side, Lumineers are comparatively expensive. However, the durability and long-lasting features of Lumineers recoup the high cost and make them a bit affordable.

Bottom line

Both veneers and Lumineers work fine for hiding dental imperfections. However, making the right choice depends on your dental condition, cost, and the difference between veneers and Lumineers. To decide which option will suit you, call a reputed dentist in your local area.

Who Are Veneers For?

Veneer Color Options

Who Exactly Are Veneers For?

Have you always wanted perfect looking teeth? Veneers are one of the best ways to really be able to get cosmetic improvements to your smile without having to go through extensive dental work. Below, we will be going over some of the different reasons you might be considering getting veneers.

Who Are Veneers Meant For?

 

Aesthetics

If you are someone that simply doesn’t like the look of your teeth, veneers could be a good option to consider. Because it involves having a thin layer of porcelain permanently bonded to your tooth, it can mask virtually any flaw that you might have.

Discoloring.

If you are dealing with discoloring for whatever reason, getting veneers is a suitable option because it will hide your permanently discolored teeth. Your teeth might be discolored because of antibiotic medication that you took as a kid or even because of having a root canal procedure done.

Crooked Teeth.

It can be as simple as having crooked teeth. If your teeth are crooked and you aren’t necessarily thrilled with the idea of having to go through the year (or longer) treatment of braces, it might be an option.

Dealing With Gaps.

If you are looking to fill in the gaps in your teeth, you can always get veneers because the veneers can be adhered to your teeth permanently to correct the gaps.

Chipped Teeth.

If you suffer from chipped teeth, you can always get veneers to correct the issue. Along with effectively masking chipped teeth, veneers can do a great job for those that might have worn down teeth from grinding their teeth at night.

Who Shouldn’t Get Veneers?

 

Those Not Looking For A Permanent Procedure.

While the procedure is purely cosmetic, it is something that is relatively serious considering the semi-permanent nature of it. Therefore, you will want to think about whether or not you want veneers because it is a long-lasting procedure with long term results.

You Have Tooth Decay

If you suffer from tooth decay, you will not be able to get veneers placed until the tooth is healthy. Any underlying issues that your teeth or specific tooth suffer from will only worsen over the long run. Because of this, your dentist will advise that you do not get veneers and that you correct any issues with compromised teeth prior to getting the procedure completed.

You Have Gum Disease

It is not advisable to get veneers if you suffer from gum disease for a couple of reasons. For one, your gums are generally going to receive if your gum disease worsens which can expose the veneer. Along with this, inflammation that you have in your gums is not going to allow for proper impressions to be made which can result in improper fitting veneers.

You Grind Your Teeth

If you are someone that suffers from Bruxism, you will want to avoid getting veneers. Unfortunately, the stress that you place on the veneers will eventually wear it down much quicker than it should. Therefore, you might end up getting chips or fractures in your veneers due to the repeated stress of grinding your teeth.

Overall, veneers are a great option for those that have healthy teeth and gums but who want to make cosmetic improvements to them. Whether its to correct a chipped tooth, worn down teeth, or something else. This procedure can be a suitable option for those that want aesthetic improvements to their smile. The procedure can also be done partially if you only have a few teeth that you want to place veneers on.