Understanding the Difference Between Lumineers® and Porcelain Veneers

There’s no doubt that having a beautiful smile can help you feel more confident. But unfortunately, most of us have at least one smile flaw that keeps our smiles from looking their best.

The good news is that dental veneers can help correct a wide variety of cosmetic smile flaws in a few office visits. And today, you have two options: traditional porcelain veneers and super-thin Lumineers®.

At Dr Taylor’s Family Dental Center, Marvin Taylor, DDS, offers both options to help patients restore their smiles and get beautiful results. In this post, he provides a quick overview of both porcelain veneers and Lumineers to assist you in deciding which is a better option for your goals and needs.

How veneers and Lumineers work

Veneers have so many uses in cosmetic dentistry that you might think the “v” stands for versatility. Veneers and Lumineers are both used to restore:

• Deep stains and discoloration
• Chipped teeth
• Misshapen teeth
• Teeth that look too small
• Gaps between teeth

They can also make crooked teeth appear straight and aligned.

Unlike dental crowns that surround the entire tooth surface, veneers and Lumineers rest on the surface of a tooth. For this reason, your provider usually reserves them for the teeth that are visible when you smile.

The primary structural difference between traditional porcelain veneers and Lumineers is their thickness: While veneers are thin, Lumineers are even thinner — about the same thickness as a contact lens. Lumineers consist of a type of porcelain called cerinate porcelain (or sometimes laminate porcelain) that supports their extra-thin design.

Lumineers vs. porcelain veneers: making the choice

Veneers and Lumineers each require two office visits for application. Aside from the variation in thickness, there are some other differences between veneers and Lumineers.

Because veneers are thicker, Dr. Taylor needs to remove a small amount of material from the surface of your tooth to make “room” for the veneer so its surface is even with the neighboring teeth. Lumineers can be applied to your teeth without removing tooth material, meaning you can also have your restorations removed later if you want.

The thinner material used in Lumineers also makes them more translucent. Some people feel the light reflection of Lumineers looks more like a natural tooth. However, because they’re so thin, Lumineers might not be a good choice if your teeth are badly stained.

Bottom line: Both veneers and Lumineers can dramatically improve the way your smile looks. The best way to decide which option is better for you is to schedule an evaluation so we can review your goals and examine your teeth and smile. 

Feel confident about your beautiful smile

Don’t let a flawed smile take a toll on your self-confidence. To learn how veneers and Lumineers can improve the way your smile looks, call 248-681-8100 or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today.