5 Reasons to Consider Lumineers Over Porcelain Veneers

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. But if you shy away from smiling because of imperfections like stains and chips, your social interactions suffer. Both porcelain veneers and Lumineers can cover teeth, hide imperfections, and give you a brighter, whiter smile. But there are several important differences between porcelain veneers and Lumineers.

If you have stained or damaged teeth, the non-invasive nature of Lumineers and their preparation might appeal to you.

1. No Needles or Drills

Some dental patients have a fear of needles or drills, and this makes most dental procedures a terrifying experience.

Porcelain veneers require drills to remove tooth enamel and needles to administer the anesthetic. But because Lumineers adhere directly to the surface of teeth, there is no need to remove enamel with a drill. And this means that no anesthetic is necessary. This means that the preparation and placement of Lumineers is less stressful and less painful than the placement of porcelain veneers.

2. Preparation Takes Less Time

Although both porcelain veneers and Lumineers take several weeks to create, the initial preparation of Lumineers is much simpler than that of porcelain veneers. For instance, to prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers, a dentist would need to remove some of the enamel. This ensures that your teeth won’t look bulky once the veneers are in place. This process takes time.

But Lumineers don’t require any enamel removal. Sometimes, a dentist might polish or clean teeth to prepare them for Lumineers. But aside from that, they only need to take impressions of your teeth. As a result, prep for Lumineers takes much less time than prep for veneers.

3. Tooth Enamel Remains Intact

Porcelain veneers tend to be about 0.5 millimeters thick, while Lumineers are usually about 0.3 millimeters thick. The additional thickness of porcelain veneers means that it’s necessary to remove some tooth enamel before placement. Otherwise, the teeth could look too bulky.

Lumineers don’t require enamel removal. If you want to conserve the natural structure of your teeth for whatever reason, then Lumineers are a much better choice.

4. No Post-Treatment Sensitivity

One side effect of enamel removal is post-treatment sensitivity. Tooth enamel protects the sensitive inner part of teeth from sensations of temperature and pain. Unfortunately, after porcelain veneer placement, teeth can be more sensitive than normal for a while, at least until they begin to adapt.

If tooth sensitivity has been a problem for you in the past, then Lumineers will ensure that you don’t suffer any discomfort post treatment. Since Lumineers bond directly to the surface of your teeth, your enamel remains intact.

5. Procedure Can Be Reversed If Necessary

A great advantage of Lumineers is that in the future, you can reverse the procedure if you decide to.

Porcelain veneers, on the other hand, are generally not reversible. This is because they require the removal of enamel from teeth. Once removed, enamel doesn’t grow back. This means that those teeth will always need some form of protection, like a veneer, a crown, or dental bonding.

Are you worried about the appearance of your teeth when you smile? Then Lumineers can help restore your ability to smile, laugh, and talk with confidence. Crest Hill Family Dental office has over 33 years of experience helping patients with dental issues like staining. Contact us today to discuss how Lumineers can change your life by restoring your smile.