I want a new smile, and am interested in getting porcelain veneers. My cosmetic dentist works with Lumineers, so I was thinking of getting them. However, I want my smile makeover to last a long time. What can I do to make sure my Lumineers last 15-20 years?
Sidney, from Amarillo, TX
Hi Sidney,
It is good that your dentist is comfortable working with Lumineers. The first step to making sure your cosmetic dental work lasts a long time is choosing an expert cosmetic dentist. Lumineers are a type of ultra-thin porcelain, but they are placed directly over your natural teeth with no preparation. For this reason, Lumineers can look bulky or unnatural if not placed with skill and care.
You can keep your oral hygiene routine the same at home, as neither tooth brushes, tooth paste, nor mouth wash can harm porcelain. Keep up with your regular dental appointments to prevent gum disease. Also, be sure to let your oral hygienist know you have veneers, to avoid any harsh tools that can leave scratches.
Porcelain may be durable but it can be stained. Coffee and red wine are major culprits, as can be tobacco use. Try to use a straw when drinking coffee or red wine in order to minimize contact with your teeth.
Lumineers can also be ground down like your natural teeth, so make your dentist aware if you grind your teeth. A night guard will take the pressure off your veneers at night, and can prevent any fracturing.
This blog post is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist, Dr. Hillary Peck, of Peck Family Dentistry.
I got Lumineers placed on my teeth years ago, and they are not as white as I’d like them to be. I know that porcelain crowns can’t be whitened with tooth whitening or bleaching, but I was wondering about something else I could do. Is it possible to place new, whiter Lumineers over my old ones? Is it recommended? I just want my smile to be brighter.
Thank you,
Julia, from Accident, Maryland.
Hi Julia,
Lumineers are an ultra-thin type of porcelain veneer marketed as a no-prep procedure, meaning they are bonded directly to your tooth without any surface preparation. Your dentist should have taken your smile concerns into consideration while making your Lumineers. Not getting the color you wanted is probably a result of your dentist lacking experience in cosmetic dentistry. A true cosmetic dentist would take your aesthetic concerns as seriously as your practical ones.
Fortunately, you can get a brighter smile if you re-do your old Lumineers. Putting new ones over your current ones will not save you any time or money, and may also feel too thick when placed in your mouth. Bonding Lumineers on top of existing ones or porcelain veneer increases the risk of failure. Also, the thin margin between where the Lumineers meet would be more prone to staining than if it were placed over a natural tooth.
So to improve the whiteness and look of your smile, you should seek out a cosmetic dentist to replace your Lumineers. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a specialty recognized by the ADA, but some dentists have received extensive post-graduate training in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, and have the experience to help your case.
Also, be open minded when seeking a new dentist for your Lumineers – not all dentists are comfortable using them, and you may find that a different type of porcelain veneer is best for you.
This blog post is brought to you by Phoenix Lumineers provider, Dr. Hillary Peck. Dr. Peck is a general dentist who has considerable experience with cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
I’m a little upset but don’t know how to proceed. I asked my dentist for a cosmetic dentist recommendation. He said every dentist is a cosmetic dentist and he can do whatever I need. I told him I wanted a smile makeover. He told me about his certification in Lumineers. I was relieved to know he was certified so I agreed to let him do it. We discussed that I wanted my front teeth lengthened and to have all of them made as white as they can. He seemed fine with everything I’d mentioned. But, when he put the Lumineers on, I was so disappointed. First, they looked bulky. I’m not sure why because these were supposed to be ultra-thin. That’s one of the reasons he recommended them. But, the worst was the color. I told him I wanted it very white, but it wasn’t. I asked him why and he said for any smile makeover to look natural, he insisted their needs to be some natural staining. Is there any way to whiten these?
Jean M.
Dear Jean,
While there isn’t a cosmetic dentistry specialty, that doesn’t mean that every dentist is a cosmetic dentist. Every dentist is allowed to practice cosmetic dentistry. But, not every dentist is skilled in the art. And believe me, it is an art.
Certification in Lumineers sounds much more impressive than it is in reality. To receive certification they just have to attend a seminar. That’s it. There’s no examination of skill at all. None. Your dentist is what I’d call either a beginner cosmetic dentist or a dabbler. You asked about a smile makeover. He just got certified and decided this was a good chance to hone his skills and practice.
The problem is, he still has a general dentist’s mindset. In dental school, we’re taught we know better than the patient. We understand more about the science than you do. The problem is, if he’d studied cosmetic dentistry (which all has to be done post-graduate) he’d know that cosmetic dentistry is an art form. And art is in the beauty of the beholder. The beholder, in this case, is YOU. You decided what is a beautiful smile. If you want white teeth. You get them. If you want crooked teeth (and we’ve had requests like that) you get them.
He doesn’t understand that so he assumed he knew better than you and put a stain on them. If you’d wanted stained teeth, why get a smile makeover?
What do Do From Here About Your Lumineers
Unfortunately, teeth whitening only works on natural tooth structure. It will not whiten your Lumineers. The only way to fix this is to have the case re-done. You have a decent case for a full refund because he didn’t create the Lumineers you’d paid for.
In your case, I’d ask for a full refund from your dentist explaining he didn’t give you what you’d agreed on. Then go to a different cosmetic dentist. Look at their “brag book” to make sure you like the results they get before committing.
You’ll probably find that better cosmetic dentists tend to avoid the Lumineers brand. Even though they’re ultra-thin, the results tend to be bulky without tooth preparation and their lab isn’t known to be artistic. They’ll likely suggest a different brand of porcelain veneers. This is one case where I wouldn’t argue. If they’ve studied the craft as they should, they’d know which brands will have the nuances you want for your new smile.
This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.
I got six Lumineers. I was happy with them, but two of them seemed a little darker than the others. The dentist assured me they were fine and the difference in their appearance was just a matter of the lighting in his office. However, even at home they look darker and seem to be getting darker every day. There is a bluish tint to them. What do I do?
Elisabeth T. – Missouri
Elisabeth,
Based on what you’ve said, and bear in mind that I haven’t examined you, it sounds like there is not a good seal on two of the Lumineers. That would allow food and drink to seep underneath which is not only causing the stained appearance, but will lead to decay.
Talk to your dentist and give him a chance to make it right. If he seems unwilling, you can always get a second opinion. Pressure from a peer’s opinion saying that it is improperly sealed may persuade him to make it right.
I spent over $15,000 on a smile makeover and my dentist put a stain on my Lumineers on purpose! Do you know if I can fix this? He insists it is necessary to make it look natural, but if I wanted my natural teeth, I wouldn’t have spent this much money for new ones.
Dana C. – Portsmouth, VA
Dana,
This is a typical issue. Someone who is not an artistic cosmetic dentist, but knows how to do a few cosmetic procedures is a dangerous thing. While he may have been taught in dental school that it is important to make a smile look natural, people who get porcelain veneers are not after any smile. They want something stunning.
Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is to get is to get new veneers. You’ll want to go to a different dentist though. I’d ask for a refund. You may have to cover the lab fees, but seeing as you’re going to have to have the procedure re-done, he may agree to refund his chair time.
When you go to an artistic cosmetic dentist, he may suggest something other than Lumineers. Don’t panic. Bear in mind that they are just one brand of porcelain veneers and he may know of a brand that will give you a better smile.
I’m sorry you’ve had to go through such a tough, expensive lesson. Hopefully others will learn from what you have been through.
This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentist Dr. Kevin Peck.
