If you have discolored, gapped, chipped, or slightly crooked teeth, porcelain veneers could be a great cosmetic option. Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin shells designed to cover the front surface of teeth. If you’ve ever wondered how Hollywood movie stars and celebrities can achieve such perfect smiles, a veneer was probably the answer. Veneers can fix many cosmetic imperfections and even fix gaps among teeth. For people looking to beautify their smile, porcelain veneers are a great option. However, to be fit with traditional veneers, your dentist must first grind down your existing tooth structure by removing a thin enamel layer from your teeth. While this procedure is standard and perfectly safe, it can lead to pain and tooth sensitivity, and the thought of it can make patients squeamish. Luckily, we at Pacific Dental Care also provide Lumineers, a special kind of porcelain veneer that skips much of the prep work that has turned people off from veneers in the past.
Lumineers are made ultra-thin (approximately 0.2 millimeters thick), so little to no tooth reduction is needed before they’re fitted. Not only does that preserve the natural structure of your teeth, but it means faster treatment, no need to wear temporaries before fitting, a less invasive procedure, and a much lower risk of pain and tooth sensitivity throughout the process. And unlike with standard veneers, if you’re unsatisfied with the results, our dentists can easily remove the veneers from your teeth. With their highly translucent appearance, Lumineers replicate the natural appearance of your tooth enamel, and they’re durable enough to resist wear and tear for up to 20 years.
Lumineers can be installed in as quickly as two visits. After a consultation to determine if Lumineers are right for you, a Certified Lumineers Dentist, they will take an impression of both your upper and lower teeth and send the mold, along with photos, dental records, and any other pertinent information to ensure a proper fit, to an authorized Lumineers laboratory. Typically after a few weeks, you’ll have your second visit. There, your dentist will place your Lumineers. They’ll test the fit to make sure it’s good and snug, then your teeth are moderately etched to prepare for placement and bonded one by one. Finally, your dentist will check your bite to ensure your points of contact are balanced and will not result in chipping throughout the day.
However, Lumineers may not be the best choice for everyone. Since they are built to be installed with a less invasive procedure, they are not fitted with any pre-sculpting of the tooth. This can result in a less natural look for some, particularly since the lack of drilling means the Lumineers increase the size of the tooth. Additionally, the super thin construction of your Lumineers makes them more susceptible to damage, and when they break, they can be difficult to correct. However, those potential issues are greatly mitigated when you have your Lumineers installed by an experienced cosmetic dental practitioner like the ones we have employed here at Pacific Dental Care.
If you may be interested in Lumineers, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation appointment with us so we can discuss the details further and give you all the information and expertise needed to get a beautiful white smile.