Today’s dental veneers are really popular, and for lots of good reasons: They’re beautiful, the application process is pretty simple, and best of all, they can be used to improve lots of cosmetic flaws, including:
Depending on the results you want, you can opt to have a single veneer or multiple veneers for a beautiful, natural-looking smile makeover.
With so much to offer, deciding to get a veneer is often a no-brainer. Deciding which type to get is a bit more complicated.
Marvin Taylor, DDS, offers two main types of veneers for patients at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center, along with a third option that uses an entirely different approach. If you’re thinking about getting a veneer, here’s what you need to know about all three choices.
The two main types of veneers are porcelain veneers and Lumineers®. Both require two office visits.
Porcelain veneers have been around for a long time, which means plenty of people have enjoyed their benefits. Placing a porcelain veneer takes two visits: one to shape your tooth and make a mold of it, and then one to adhere the permanent veneer to the tooth surface.
Although porcelain veneers are thin, they still take up room. To make space for the veneer, Dr. Taylor removes a small amount of the tooth surface. Then, he makes a mold of the tooth and covers it with a temporary veneer to protect the tooth while the permanent veneer is being made at a lab, a process that takes 2-3 weeks.
During the second visit, Dr. Taylor removes the temporary veneer and cleans the tooth surface. Then he applies the veneer using a special bonding agent designed specifically for dental use. The edges are gently polished to ensure a secure, beautiful fit.
Porcelain veneers are thin, but Lumineers are really thin — just a little thicker than a contact lens. As a result, Lumineers offer some distinct and different advantages over porcelain veneers.
As the name implies, Lumineers are translucent, giving your tooth a naturally luminous sheen that mimics the way light reflects from your natural teeth. As a result, some people prefer the way Lumineers look.
Because Lumineers are so thin, they take up very little room when applied to the tooth. That means Dr. Taylor won’t need to remove tooth material before applying your Lumineer — instead, he’ll just use a special formula to “roughen” the surface to aid in adhesion.
If for some reason you decide you no longer want your Lumineer, Dr. Taylor can simply remove it. You can’t do that with a porcelain veneer where some of the tooth material has been removed.
There are a couple of downsides, though: Lumineers typically cost a bit more, and because they’re so thin, they may not be the best choice for covering a deeply stained tooth.
Both veneers and Lumineers are well-loved by patients looking for beautiful, durable, natural-looking restorations. But all that beauty comes at a price. Certainly, both porcelain veneers and Lumineers are well worth it. But depending on your budget, these options might be a bit of a stretch.
Cosmetic bonding can correct many of the same issues as veneers at a lower cost. There are, however, some trade-offs. First, they’re made of a durable resin material that’s applied to the surface of your tooth. Although they can be shaped and tinted to blend in, they don’t have the natural, translucent quality offered by veneers.
Second, although the resin material is tough, it’s not as tough as the materials used in veneers. That means bonding restorations will chip easily, and they can also stain — not good if you love that morning cup of joe.
Veneers can truly transform the way your smile looks, and they can transform your confidence, too. To learn more about veneers and other cosmetic options that can help your smile look its best, call 248-681-8100 or book an appointment online at our Waterford, Michigan, practice today.
