Should I Get Porcelain Veneers or Lumineers?
Posted by Annmarie SanSevero
I have some teeth that have embarrassed me for years. Both of my front teeth are broken to varying degrees. The other teeth are discolored. Some are thinner than others. I’ve been saving up to get a smile makeover, but am having trouble choosing between Lumineers and porcelain veneers. Some people have told me that Lumineers break easily so I don’t like that, but my dentist mentioned that porcelain veneers means grinding down the teeth. This is costing me a lot of money, so I want to make sure I am choosing wisely. Any advice on the right choice given how I’ve described my teeth?
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
I am glad you wrote. There is a way to ensure that you get a stunning smile makeover. However, I want to switch the way you are approaching it. Instead of looking at it like an item you purchase where you can check for concrete issues like quality and endurance, I want you to think of it like a work of art.
If you gave Michaelangelo and an art student the same type and quality of marble and asked them to sculpt something, would you really expect the results to be the same? Of course not! This is why when you are deciding on the details for your smile makeover, the most important factor will be the dentist (or artist) that you choose.
One of the big problems patients face is that there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount (if any) post-doctoral training in cosmetic procedures. In your place, I would look for someone who has proven expertise and artistry in cosmetic work. The best cosmetic dentists in the country have attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Even if it meant traveling to a nearby city to get your work done it would be worth it.
As for the Lumineers versus porcelain veneers question, Lumineers are porcelain veneers. They are just a specific brand that is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. I’m not sure who told you Lumineers were prone to breaking, they’re not. But they do have problems. Their biggest issue is that the company that owns them insists dentists use their labs, which is not know for its artistic results.
Your dentist was also incorrect in telling you that porcelain veneers will require your teeth to be ground down. Dental crowns require a grinding of the teeth. Porcelain veneers only need a mild shaving. He may think that using Lumineers which are ever so slightly thinner will mean he doesn’t have to do that shaping, but unless he is an expert, the results will be bulky looking. Some patients have described them as horse teeth. Find an AACD accredited dentist and you can feel confident you will get results you’ll be proud of.
This blog is brought to you by a caring cosmetic dentist in Franklin, TN Dr. Christopher Weber.
