The Surprising Difference between Lumineers and Veneers

Veneers are treatment options for dental patients to cover discolored or broken teeth to ensure they appear glossy, white, and even. Traditional veneers are made of porcelain and require significant preparation, where your teeth are drilled down and reshaped to prepare for the application.

Interestingly, another type of cosmetic dentistry device called Lumineers is a brand offered by some dentists. Lumineers are manufactured by DenMat, a laboratory that makes a range of other dental veneer brands.

Lumineers are thinner and faster to apply but more affordable than different veneers. However, selecting the right veneer is not as easy as it seems.

Before Moving On, Know These

Dental veneers can make your teeth appear whiter and straighter, but they are challenging to apply and involve a long preparation process. 

On the other hand, Lumineers can make your teeth look great, but the application process is less involved, and they are not as durable as dental veneers. They are not an effective way to hide severely stained or damaged teeth.

Veritable Facts about Veneers

Veneers are fabricated semi-precious materials glued over your teeth to give them a more uniform appearance. Though their surfaces differ from the more familiar tooth enamel, they’re more delicate and will begin to chip within five years or sooner.

Veneers are the best solutions for issues like stained teeth that are hard to cover up, teeth that appear yellow, brown, or irregular in shape, or teeth that are broken or chipped. Veneers can also hide larger than average teeth.

The Process

• The first step to acquire veneers is to dull the natural shine on your teeth. Your dentist uses a grinding tool to remove enamel from the surface of your front teeth, so there is room for the veneers. The grinding process takes several minutes, depending on how many teeth you want the veneers to cover.  
• Once the grinding is finished, you will receive temporary veneers made of acrylic until you receive a permanent set from a dental laboratory.  
• The dental laboratory takes approximately two to four weeks to finish the veneers and sends them back to your dentist.  
• After your final appointment, the stronger veneers will be cemented onto your prepared teeth by a bonding solution your dentist makes. 

The Impact

Traditional veneers last up to ten years, extending to twenty years with proper dental hygiene. Conventional veneers cost between $950 and $2500 per tooth. While insurance companies don’t include covering surfaces, you may look forward to a discount if you decide to have veneers on several teeth.

Learning about Lumineers

While applied similarly to their generic counterparts, Lumineers have specific uses. They may be a good option if you have teeth with minor imperfections or gaps and don’t want to replace all of your teeth with dental implants. 

• Dental veneers do not require a lengthy process or expensive equipment to change the size or shape of your tooth structure, but they will involve two visits to the dentist. 
• During your first appointment, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to create a mold.
• This mold will be sent to a dental lab to be turned into a very detailed veneer designed to fit over your smile. 

However, one must remember that Lumineers are not as long-lasting as porcelain veneers. They are also much more challenging to clean and could provide additional risks of gingivitis or other oral diseases. Lumineers cost approximately $800–2,000 per tooth and last for about ten to twenty years.

The Final Choice Is Yours

Veneers or Lumineers? Base your decision on the information we shared above. However, there are other less costly procedures to repair a broken smile. You can get braces, aligners, or teeth whitening to enhance the appearance of your teeth. However, if you plan to have veneers on your teeth, talk to your dentist first. They can suggest the best options for improving your smile based on your budget.

For veneers in Oro Valley, set your appointment with Oro Valley Dental Arts right now! Our team is here for all your dental needs. Some of the services we provide are dental hygiene, Invisalign, dental crowns, and family dentistry, to name a few!