Are Lumineer Teeth the Same as Dental Veneers? 

One of the popular oral appliances used in cosmetic dentistry is called Lumineers in Oxnard. Lumineers have, for a while now, been used to improve the appearance of teeth regarding shape, color, size, and uneven spacing between them. They work closely similar to dental veneers, which is why many patients easily use veneers and lumineer teeth interchangeably.

Traditional Dental Veneers Vs. Lumineer Teeth

Typical dental veneers feature a porcelain tooth-shaped, tooth-colored shell-like material that is adhered to the front surfaces of teeth to cover certain dental flaws. Thanks to the nature of the material used to create them, your dentist in Oxnard, CA, must prepare your teeth in advance before installing dental veneers. The preparation process involves shaving off part of your tooth’s enamel to create room for the porcelain veneer to fit in properly.

On the other hand, Lumineers feature ultra-thin laminates, which are thinner, and lighter materials that make them much faster to install than conventional dental veneers. As such, no preparation is needed beforehand, which is why you will hear a dentist near you refer to Lumineer’s teeth as no-prep veneers.

Are the Two the Same?

There are several similarities between lumineers and dental veneers, usually in how they are used. Both oral appliances can correct similar dental flaws, including:

• Dental discoloration
• Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
• Small spaces between teeth
• Unusually shaped or short teeth

Still, lumineers and dental veneers do not refer to the same oral appliances. The major differences you will note between these two dental appliances are:

• Thickness – typically, dental veneers have a thickness of about 0.5 millimeters, while lumineer teeth have a thickness of about 0.3 millimeters.
• Preparation of teeth – to install dental veneers, your cosmetic dentist near you will have to remove a substantial amount of your tooth’s enamel to prepare it to receive the dental veneers. With lumineers, however, not much tooth material must be removed to attach it to your tooth.
• Reversibility of the procedure – should you ever change your mind about having veneer teeth, you have to talk to your cosmetic dentist in Oxnard, CA, about your options. With dental veneers, the procedure cannot be undone since a lot of your tooth structure is removed during installation. Therefore, your only option would be to replace the veneers with other veneers or dental crowns. With lumineers, however, the procedure is relatively reversible.
• Translucency – for veneer teeth to improve the appearance of your natural teeth, it is a crucial aspect. Lumineers are more translucent than conventional veneers because of the thinness of the ceramic material used to make them. The result, therefore, is a more natural-looking smile than traditional dental veneers because of their ability to reflect light better.
• The use of anesthesia – for various dental works, anesthesia is employed to facilitate a pain-free procedure. With dental veneers, anesthesia is necessary to disallow feelings of pain or heightened tooth sensitivity when the enamel is being prepared. Since this kind of preparation is not there with lumineer teeth, you do not need local anesthesia during your lumineer cosmetic procedure.
• Costs – the cost of getting lumineer teeth is relatively higher than that of getting conventional dental veneers because of the type of materials used. However, modern dentistry has significantly subsidized the costs of lumineers over the years so that the price difference is not too big.

Which Between the Two Are Most Effective?

Both lumineers and dental veneers are effective for cosmetic adjustments in your oral cavity. Therefore, when you get either veneers or lumineers, you will notice tremendous changes in the appearance of your teeth. However, in some situations, you will prefer one over the other. For example, when it comes to masking stubborn and conspicuous stains on your teeth, conventional dental veneers would be better. The reason is that the lumineer material is more translucent than veneers. It means that the stubborn stains on your teeth may still slightly show when you get lumineers. For such reasons, you should only decide about your preference after conversing with your cosmetic dentist about your dental expectations.