Veneers help cover discolored and broken teeth to appear glossy and white and are usually made of porcelain or composite resin material. Veneers look like a thin, tiny shell, and are bonded to the tops of the teeth to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. However, with the wide variety of dental treatment options, dentists have begun to offer their patients lumineers, or no-prep veneers, as an alternative to traditional veneers. Although both traditional veneers and lumineers can improve your smile, both have significant differences and some similarities. If you’ve been interested in learning about veneers, make sure to consult with a professional dentist to decide what options will work best for you.
What’s Similar About Veneers and Lumineers?
Both veneers and lumineers have similar qualities. Both improve the appearance of crooked, misaligned teeth and can give a brighter, whiter smile. Both options can hide cracks and chips in teeth, and can also cover gaps in between teeth. Because both are typically made with the same materials, they both provide a natural, pearly appearance that’s strong, durable, and easy-to-maintain. Both types of veneers will not stain or change color over time, and both come with similar prices between $800 to $2500 per tooth. However, both veneers and lumineers will make it harder to keep your teeth and mouth healthy and clean due to its bonding around the gum line.
What makes veneers different from lumineers is the procedure and how your dentist installs the veneers onto your teeth.
What’s the Difference Between Veneers and Lumineers?
Traditional veneers require the removal of the enamel and reshaping of the tooth to bond the veneers and create a natural appearance. This multi-step process involves grinding down the surface of the teeth to prepare them, and then your dentist will shape the mold for your teeth to send to the lab for construction. Afterward, after a period of two to four weeks, the veneers will arrive, and your dentist will install them onto your teeth. This process will generally take up to a few weeks to months to prepare and will take several appointments. Once the veneers are installed, they’re permanent and can last from five to seven years, and at most twenty years.
Lumineers, or no-prep veneers, don’t require that process. They’re more translucent than traditional veneers, and won’t require grinding down the enamel to be installed. While the procedure will at least take two appointments to complete, your dentist will only need the impression mold. These kinds of veneers are semi-permanent, meaning if at any point you wish to remove the veneers, your dentist will be able to without damaging your teeth. Lumineers last as long as veneers, ranging from five to seven, all the way to twenty years.
If you’re searching for a flawless smile, then don’t hesitate to call Dr. Ross Quartano at Magnolia Dental. Dr. Quartano can repair chipped and cracked teeth, close gaps, fix unevenness and reduce the appearance of stains. Located in Covington, LA, Dr. Quartano aspires, to give every one of his patients a happy, beautiful smile.
