People who have worn, chipped, misshaped, broken, or discolored teeth can still have a perfect smile by placing veneers on the affected teeth. But the procedure is usually an irreversible one, as portions of the teeth enamel are shaved away in order to accommodate the veneer; the process is also a quite painful one, so an anesthetic is administered before a veneer placement. Patients and dentists agree that this method for achieving a perfect smile is a means of last resort, but new developments have made veneers that much more comfortable and doable, as a relatively new kind of veneers, called lumineers, are offered for patients who want a procedure with less hassles and no pain.
Lumineers are registered porcelain veneers which are made from a patented and very strong kind of porcelain called Cerinate. Since the latter is exceptionally durable, lumineers can be made with very thin tolerances; this is an ideal alternative to ordinary veneers, which tend to be bulky and require the application area to be shaved off substantially in order to accommodate the treatment. Lumineers can be as thin as a contact lens, whereas ordinary veneers have a minimum thickness of half a centimeter.
This essential advantage of Lumineers over other veneers allows it to be placed on teeth without requiring extensive drilling work on the affected area, as lumineers can be bonded in place without lending the tooth a bulky appearance; in consequence, there is also no need for an anesthetic shot. Lumineers afford minimal or no reduction in the tooth’s natural structure, and are clinically-proven to be able to last for up to 20 years.
Lumineers provide an alternative to numerous dental procedures, such as teeth straightening, braces, and permanent whitening; it can be placed easily over crowns or rejuvenate previous dental bridge procedures. It restores teeth appearance and enhances their strength, consequently helping in preventing wear. Best of all, since the procedure is practically a cosmetic one, it is totally reversible; the lumineers can be removed at any time if needed.
The use of lumineers as a corrective dental procedure necessitates that the patient’s teeth are relatively straightly aligned before the procedure, and the only purpose for the treatment is a simple to moderate cosmetic change in the appearance, such as mild coloration, filling of gaps between teeth, and correcting slightly inclined small teeth. In cases of severe misalignment, such as protrusions and significant irregularities, traditional veneer techniques are advisable; the affected areas need to be shaved off to achieve a more even and regular appearance.
The costs for the lumineer alternative differ depending on the area and the other dental services which go with the procedure, but will be in the same range as that of a traditional porcelain veneer, at about 700 to 1000 U.S. dollars per veneer. Lumineers can also be placed using traditional techniques for placing veneers; the specific costs for placing lumineers ultimately is upon the discretion of the dentist, as the latter has to consider the exact condition of the teeth before treatment, and decide whether to go for a ‘non-drilling’ procedure, or even out the affected area by shaving off some parts of it.