Lumineers

If you’re not content with the appearance of your smile, veneers are a good way to revamp your smile and cover teeth that are discolored or damaged, yet still healthy. Traditional porcelain veneers can be an intensive procedure that requires time and quite a bit of work to prepare and apply. However, lumineers are a brand of veneers that provide a similar look with some advantages over their traditional counterpart. 

Understanding Veneers 

Having veneers placed over your discolored or damaged teeth is one of the easiest ways to restore your smile and cover those imperfections that make you feel uneasy about your smile. Traditional veneers are applied in three steps, typically during two different appointments. 

Step 1:

At your first appointment, the dentist will take X-rays and trim about a half millimeter from the front of your tooth enamel to prepare your teeth for the veneers. 

Step 2:

In the same appointment, they take an impression of your teeth to send to a lab that they use to make the veneers.

Step 3:

About two weeks later, you’ll come back for a second appointment to have the veneers placed. The dentist will prepare the surface by roughing it up a bit so the veneers have something to adhere well to, then they will be bonded to your teeth with a special permanent cement. Finally, they use an ultraviolet light or laser to harden the bond. 

Porcelain veneers are custom-made, durable, and long-lasting. Most of the time, porcelain veneers will last many years before they need to be replaced. 

What are Lumineers? 

Like any other veneers, lumineers are a cosmetic coating that dentists use to improve the appearance of your smile. Lumineers are a type of veneer that are thinner, less costly, and quicker to apply. Further, Lumineers require less preparation to apply to the teeth and can potentially be removed if need be. These are a popular choice to cosmetically improve your smile because they are a:

• Non-porous surface that makes them resistant to staining and maintains that bright, glossy look for many years.
• Thinner design and simpler application that requires little preparation, so it’s much faster and easier to apply than traditional veneers.
• Coating that’s able to cover up yellowing, discolored, broken or chipped teeth so you cannot see imperfections. However, since they are thinner than traditional veneers, they may not be an option for severely discolored teeth. 
• Quick fix for small or usually shaped teeth to create a flawless look for your smile. 
• Semi-permanent application that lasts 10 to 20 years, but can be removed later with minimal damage to your teeth if you change your mind; traditional veneers require a dentist to grind down the front of the tooth, so they cannot be removed. 

How to Care For Lumineers 

Caring for lumineers, or veneers, doesn’t differ from taking care of your own, natural teeth. Before you even have this coating applied to the teeth, they must be healthy and free of decay and active gum disease. If you are someone who clenches or grinds their teeth, you may not be a good candidate for veneers because they may chip, break, or peel due to the pressure placed on your teeth. Further, as with most dental treatments, veneers and lumineers may become misplaced over time as they’re worn down, which is why attending your dental checkups twice a year is an important part of maintaining your treatment. 

To maintain the life of your new cosmetic treatment, you should also continue to have good at-home dental hygiene practices. You should be:

• Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day. Proper technique includes brushing the entire surface of each tooth in small, circular motions using fluoride toothpaste. 
• Using floss once a day to clear food and plaque buildup out from between the teeth.  
• Avoiding sticky, crunchy foods which are notoriously known for damaging teeth. 
• Visiting your dentist twice a year for a general dental health checkup, cleaning, and to have your lumineers checked. 

Enhance Your Smile with Young Family Dental 

If you want to cosmetically improve your smile, call Young Family Dental today to schedule a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists at any of our locations in Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, Riverton, or West Jordan. We’ll discuss the different options available for cosmetic procedures and recommend the treatment that we believe will best meet your dental health goals and give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Call the location nearest you today to learn more!