Lumineers or Veneers

[Kate J]

Hi

I have decided to have a smile makeover to improve my smile. My teeth are very yellow with broken edges and I think I would have a much better smile with a smile makeoever. I am unsure as to have Lumineers or veneers and I am not quite sure what differences there are between Lumineers and veneers.

I would like to know which of the Lumineers or veneers would involve the least drilling of my teeth. Which would cause the least sensitivity to my teeth. Also which type of veneer looks better afterwards?

In you opinion should I have Lumineers or Veneers placed on my teeth? If I have one type of veneer now, when it comes to the veneers being replaced in future, would I have to have the same type of veneer again?

[Dr Mohsen J. Esfahani]

Thank you for your post. Lumineers are made from a patented type of porcelain in America and the Lumineers are very thin and at the same time, resilient. The fact that they are thin, means that the tooth drilling can be kept to a minimum.

With normal veneers and Emax veneers, thin veneers can also be made, but with all types of veneers, if they are made too thin, they can break.

The trueth is though, that if you wish to have really good looking veneers, in most cases some tooth drilling would be necessary. Tooth drilling is irreversible and can cause tooth sensitivity and for this reason, most dentists and patients try to avoid it but for really good looking Veneers/Lumineers unfortunately in most cases, tooth drilling is necessary.

The decision to go for Lumineers or veneers is one that you must make and its not an easy decision. If you decide to have UK made Veneers, you can go to the lab and discuss the design of the veneers with the lab and they are usually made within a week or two. If you wish to have Lumineers, they usually take around 4 weeks to be made in America.

Which ever type Veneer or Lumineer you decide to have now, does not restrict you to that type in future. So you could have Lumineers now and Veneers as their replacement in 15 years.