Lumineers vs. Traditional Veneers

Encinitas, Carlsbad, and San Diego

All porcelain veneers are not the same. Lumineers are fabricated from a particular kind of porcelain and differ greatly from traditional porcelain veneers. Choosing a type of veneer depends on your cosmetic tooth needs and your desired outcome.

 

Dr. Mary Walsh-Cole, D.M.D., offers Lumineers and traditional veneers to people living in San Diego and the surrounding California areas. Dr. Walsh-Cole has the experience necessary to help you determine the veneer best-suited to you.

 

What are Lumineers?

 

Lumineers are made from a special type of porcelain. The benefits of Lumineers include:

 

• Less invasive
• Less discomfort during application
• Procedure is often reversible

 

Lumineers require less tooth preparation than other porcelain veneers. Lumineers are about the width of a contact lens, which is thinner than traditional veneers. When a traditional veneer is applied to your teeth, a layer of enamel must be removed to accommodate the veneer. Lumineers do not require much space, so your enamel is altered only the slightest degree. As such, the application process causes very little discomfort.

 

Once you receive traditional veneers, you are making a lifetime commitment to wearing veneers. Because the surface of your tooth has been changed, the bare tooth can no longer be exposed. You can replace your traditional veneers, but you cannot stop wearing them completely. With Lumineers, the procedure is sometimes reversible depending on the amount of enamel removed. 

 

Lumineers vs. Porcelain Veneers

 

Cosmetic dentist Dr. Mary Walsh-Cole often sees patients who will benefit more from traditional porcelain veneers than Lumineers. Traditional veneers are often preferred by both dentist and patient because:

 

• Lumineers are more bulky and do not seamlessly conceal cosmetic imperfections.
• The Lumineer procedure does not allow for the finely customized alterations of a traditional veneer procedure, limiting the possibility of subtle improvements.
• Lumineers are not as stain-resistant as traditional veneers.
• Traditional veneers have a stronger bond to your natural tooth, so debris is very unlikely to get underneath the veneer and cause decay.

 

Lumineers and traditional veneers have different benefits, and each patient has different priorities. Dr. Walsh-Cole offers both veneer options to provide patients flexibility and convenience in choosing cosmetic treatments. The veneer best suited to you depends on your specific cosmetic needs and your expectations of the results.

 

If you live in San Diego or the surrounding areas and are interested in Lumineers or traditional porcelain veneers, please contact experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Mary A. Walsh-Cole to schedule a consultation.