Veneers versus Lumineers- Beautiful teeth, beautiful smile!
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Ever wondered what veneers and lumineers can do for the quality of your smile? Confidence and a care-free attitude can be restored thanks to these discreet laminates.
What are veneers?
Veneers are a type of tooth cover or casing made from very thin laminates of a strong material made in the same color as your teeth. They are made a range of materials from ceramic or porcelain to the robust sounding composite bonding material. Veneers are then attached to the front surface of your original tooth beneath giving an immaculate finish and a natural look and feel to your teeth and smile.
There are number of reasons why people may think to opt for dental veneer treatment those reasons include:
There are three main reasons why a patient might seek out dental veneers. If you have damaged teeth they can help cover any which have been chipped or broken. If your teeth have been eroded by fizzy drinks or excessive grinding you may also benefit from veneers.
If you have stained teeth that cannot be improved by whitening alone then often dental veneers can help cover those stains to give a more uniform appearance.
Gappy teeth or teeth with large spaces between them can also be helped by using dental veneers and of course they also reduce the problem of food being caught between those gaps whilst eating.
Composite versus Porcelain veneers
Composite veneers are cheaper and on the whole do not last as long as porcelain ones and users of this type of veneer also tend to see more staining. However, they can be useful when a patient has only a small chip as the composite material can be used to cover the missing part without having to cover the whole tooth.
Users of porcelain veneers tend to experience a more natural look to their teeth, they have a certain translucency that you do not achieve so readily with a composite material. They are more expensive though but as they last longer than their composite counterparts they can work out as a better long term investment.
Your dentist will first of all take a good look at your teeth to examine whether or not you can benefit from veneers he or she will also give you a full explanation of the procedures involved and the likely cost. If you have any concerns or queries it’s best to be honest with your dentist from the start that way you can feel at ease with the treatment from the very start.
Before your veneers are made for you, your dentist will reshape and make ready the front surfaces of your teeth so that the veneers can be attached. Your teeth and gums will be numb so you won’t feel any of this treatment.
A special model of your teeth will be made from an imprint that your dentist will take. It is this impression that will be used to make your veneers, this can take a little while to make so be sure to ask if your dentist can attach temporary veneers in the meantime whilst your permanent ones are being made.
Once your permanent veneers are ready your teeth will be fully cleaned and maybe etched so that they can be attached properly and fixed into place permanently. Don’t worry if your veneer needs to be trimmed or adjusted during this process this is perfectly normal. Once your new veneers are cemented into place any excess will be removed, your teeth polished and all you are left with is a beautiful smile!
Composite veneers may only last one or two years compared with up to a decade or at least five years for porcelain. Whichever you choose according to budget they will not last forever and will need to be replaced. The better your dental hygiene programme the longer your veneers will last sometimes the cement can come away and your veneer fall off but this is rare and can be minimised if you look after your teeth well and attend regular check-ups.
What are Lumineers?
Lumineers, share many similarities to porcelain veneers but are made from a patented type of porcelain that is so thin that it’s about the same width of a standard contact lens. Despite their apparent fragility they are very strong and unlike veneers the tooth underneath does not need to be trimmed, the addition of lumineers to your existing teeth is both quick and painless.
How about da Vinci Veneers?
Da Vinci Veneers share similarities to Lumineers in many physical ways but they are only manufactured in the da Vinci laboratory in California. The da Vinci brand is a popular choice amongst some top end cosmetic dentists here in the US.
Are MAC Veneers for me ?
These veneers are made using pressed ceramic, giving more strength than some standard veneers. They are often chosen to give the patient a whole new smile!
Whatever type of veneer or lumineer you choose with professional help you’re bound to find the right smile for you thanks to great dentists and the aids of modern technology.