When can you do Lumineers? Are you a candidate?

I love Groupon.  I subscribe to see what kind of deals I can get every day at a discount.  Today I saw a Lumineer special for 4.  Seriously? 

OK – here is the deal on them.  I have performed one case in my 20 years of dentistry and to sum it up – I keep the after photo as an example of “not quite so pretty and dentistry I am proud of”. Everyone wants a healthy smile but not everyone is a candidate for these

Why?  It is an additive process. They are very thin – almost the thickness of a contact lens.  They have a tendency to look fake, monochromatic (one color) and bulky. 

Being that it is an additive process – they can look better if your teeth have an inward tilt and to close in some spaces.  From a distance to an untrained eye – they may not look quite so bad. They do have a tendency to stain around them where they are glued to the tooth- usually in a conspicuous spot.

The good thing about them is the require minimal prep (tooth structure removal) so if you do not like them – they can be meticulously removed.

My advice is number one – if you are considering this procedure – make sure you do a wax up and try it on for size to make sure you can deal with the excess bulk, number two – make sure you are ok with the doctor performing them.  Ask for their “after” photos – not stock photography but their actual cases – before, during and after to be sure that they can deliver the goods.  Number three they may interfere with your chewing or speech – make sure you can adapt to the new patter. Number four as always – don’t forget to floss.

Next blog will cover the Snap-On-Smile

Advertisement