If you want to improve the appearance of your smile, call our Dallas dental office at 469 838 5292. While here, we can examine your smile and provide you with more information about Lumineers. This is an one solution for addressing a variety of aesthetic issues and at Dallas Laser Dentistry we have found that patients appreciate how reversible the procedure truly is.
What are Lumineers?
Lumineers are thin porcelain shell that has been designed to fit your teeth perfectly. Each Lumineer is bonded to the surface of one of your teeth, covering its visible areas. As a result, when you smile, all that you see are the Lumineers instead of your natural teeth.
Lumineers as Restorations
When you have stained, cracked, or chipped teeth, you need to decide whether you want to replace them or use Lumineers to restore them. At Dallas Laser Dentistry, we realize the many benefits of keeping your natural teeth intact and recommend that you select the restoration option whenever possible.
Dallas Lumineers for Cosmetic Purposes
Lumineers are one of the niche solutions for replacing visually marred enamel. Lumineers, and the more well-known dental veneers, are used to cover the front of teeth that have become stained or simply do not have the shine or the whiteness they once did. Lumineers, like dental veneers, are an extremely thin strip of porcelain that is placed over your naturally occurring teeth. These ultra-thin strips of porcelain can augment your teeth and make them look like there is no damage, no stains, and that they are perfectly formed and shaped. For this reason, Lumineers, like porcelain dental veneers, can be used to –
- Close gaps in between your teeth
- Alter the shape and size of your teeth so that they are symmetrical
- Cover dark stains
- Make your teeth look uniform
- Give you a bright and brilliant smile
Lumineers vs. Dental Veneers
Patients often ask us what the difference is with Lumineers over the more common dental veneers. The answer to this question is relatively simple. When you have dental veneers placed, there’s a need to remove a small portion of your dental enamel to make way for the veneers in order to keep your teeth the same thickness. Essentially, what you are doing with dental veneers is removing some naturally occurring enamel so that they can lay flat without making your teeth appear overly large. The downside of this process is that veneers permanently alter your teeth. Once some enamel is gone, you will always need a dental restoration in order to protect them. When you decide to use Lumineers, over the more commonly used dental veneers, you are choosing a solution that is less invasive and typically allows for your enamel to remain intact. While Lumineers are as about as thick as a contact lens and can be placed without requiring your natural teeth to be permanently altered – which makes the process of receiving Lumineers more comfortable, faster, and reversible – it does make the teeth thicker than they are naturally. This increased thickness does push out the tissues of your cheeks and lips and alters your facial appearance – which is a plus if you have a lot of mouth wrinkles which can be reduced, but is a negative for anyone who likes what their face (other than their smile) looks like. As a result, we have found that our Dallas, TX patients tend to prefer porcelain veneers.
Other Pros/Cons of Lumineers
Lumineers are unique in that they are approximately 0.2 millimeters and highly translucent. This allows them to replicate the natural appearance of a tooth. Another advantage to using Lumineers is that they are durable and remain resilient, lasting in some cases over 20 years, although well done porcelain veneers can last this long or longers. This can be far longer than typical dental restorations. Additionally, with Lumineers there are typically no shots or need to use the dental drill. On the downside, since Lumineers are only attached to a tooth front surface (while porcelain veneers are attached not only to the front but also to the sides of the teeth) they have a much higher tendency to pop off than are porcelain veneers based upon our experience.
The Process of Receiving Lumineers from Dallas Laser Dentistry
If you still think you want to improve your smile with Lumineers, the procedure to get your Lumineers consists of two visits to our office. The first visit is the initial consultation, during which digital 3D laser impressions of both your upper and lower teeth will be taken along with measurements. This information is sent to the Lumineers laboratory along with photographs and other records that you can provide. They are created using your specific measurements to ensure that they fit perfectly and look natural. You will not need any numbing for the Lumineers to be placed and bonded.
Your Lumineers will function exactly the way your naturally occurring teeth would. There are no dietary restrictions and as long as you continue to keep your teeth clean and healthy, they should last for years to come.
Lumineers are Reversible
A primary benefit of Lumineers is that they are completely reversible if you don’t like the thicker teeth and the way that affects your face. Once you have Lumineers it is highly unlikely that you’re going to want to go back to your old teeth if you’re okay with the initial look. If you are the kind of person who wants a beautiful smile, then you need to consider Lumineers to replace your stained, damaged, cracked, chipped, or otherwise imperfect teeth. The process is quick, the results are stunning, and the convenience/reversibility factor is the most important aspect when it comes to choosing Lumineers over alternative solutions.
Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about this amazing solution, call 469 838 5292 and schedule an appointment with our friendly staff. At Dallas Laser Dentistry, our goal is to give you a smile that you can be proud to show off, and this is one option to do so.
