What Are Lumineers and How Do They Improve Your Smile?

Lumineers (not to be confused with the Denver-based folk-rock band of the same name!) are ultra-thin, highly-durable translucent dental veneers that look like natural tooth enamel.

They are produced by California-based DenMat, which has been manufacturing professional dental products for worldwide use since 1974. The company was founded by Santa Maria dentist Robert Ibsen.

The Lumineers product was launched in 2004 – a year before the band formed – as a rebranding of DenMat’s Cerinate veneers, which had been around since 1984. According to DenMat, Lumineers are the most popular veneer system in the world.

Lumineers – made with high-quality porcelain that’s shaped into a shell to custom fit your teeth – improve your smile by masking imperfections such as stained, cracked or misaligned teeth, and reshaping and permanently whitening your teeth.

Conventional dental veneers are much thicker than Lumineers, requiring reduction of the tooth structure by grinding down. Lumineers are so thin (0.2mm) that little or no tooth reduction is necessary. Lumineers can resist wear and tear for more than 20 years, twice as long as traditional veneers in some cases.

What Is the Lumineers Procedure?

The Lumineers process is painless and carried out over two visits to your dentist. Unlike traditional veneers, there’s no need for injections, extensive drilling of sensitive tooth structure, or temporary acrylic veneers.

During the first visit, you and your dentist decide which shade of white is right for your features, and an impression is taken of your teeth and sent to a Lumineers laboratory for your customized Lumineers to be made.

A couple of weeks later, your dentist will attach your Lumineers with a special cement after mildly etching your teeth for optimum bonding. The placement procedure typically takes around one hour. Lumineers will look natural and feel comfortable from the moment they’re fitted.

With Lumineers, you can continue to eat what you want. They’re so durable that there’s no need to avoid sticky foods.

You should continue six-monthly check-ups with your dentist to ensure your Lumineers stay looking as good as new, and that your teeth and gums are healthy. Bear in mind that after getting Lumineers you still need to maintain a good routine of oral hygiene of regular brushing and flossing.

Removing conventional veneers may be impractical, depending on how much preparation work was carried out prior to fitting them. The Lumineers process is completely reversible because it entails little or no grinding down of healthy tooth structure.

Can Lumineers Improve My Smile?

Lumineers can improve your smile by fixing a range of dental problems, including discolored, chipped, misshapen or moderately crooked teeth, gaps between teeth, and old bridges or crowns that have become unsightly.

Brightening Discolored Teeth

Staining and discoloration of teeth is a common issue, especially if you drink tea, coffee or red wine. Whitening is one option but may not remove all staining. Lumineers, however, provide a long-lasting solution, no matter what you continue to eat or drink.

Restoring Chipped Teeth

If you’re embarrassed about a chipped tooth that’s visible in the front of your mouth, the Lumineers system offers a permanent solution to give you back your self-confidence and allow you to show off your smile.

Restyling Misshapen Teeth

People with misshapen teeth often worry that the problem detracts from their appearance but have concerns about conventional veneers because of the grinding-down that may be necessary. The placement of Lumineers in most cases does not require removal of sensitive tooth structure.

Aligning Crooked Teeth

Lumineers offer a fast, painless alternative to braces to produce a smile with a perfectly-aligned look, without the inconvenience of lengthy orthodontic treatment.

Eliminating Gaps

Lumineers provide a non-invasive procedure for eliminating gaps between teeth, fixing the problem of over-spacing while keeping your teeth intact.

Renewing Old Dental Work

Bridgework and crowns can start to look jaded over time. Lumineers can be placed over old dental work to restore your smile.

How Lumineers Can Boost Your Self-Esteem

The cost of Lumineers treatment is generally comparable with braces and is seen by many people as a sound investment to dramatically enhance their appearance and self-regard.

Your smile says a lot about you, and an attractive one makes you feel better about yourself. On the other hand, if dental problems are making you too embarrassed to show your smile, loss of self-confidence can soon set in. Even if you brush and floss regularly, time can take its toll on your teeth, resulting in an unsightly appearance that makes you self-conscious.

People with an attractive smile are regarded as more successful and smarter, according to market research carried out on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). The American Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJO-DO) says that how a person looks can even affect their ability to land a job, and that people with “ideal” smiles are considered more intelligent.

Lumineers can boost your self-esteem in all walks of life by giving you the type of smile you’ve always dreamt of.

Why Lumineers Are So Popular

The advantages offered by Lumineers over conventional veneers have made them the world’s most sought-after veneer treatment. Lumineers are digitally designed to be as thin as a contact lens, so they fit seamlessly over your teeth to give you an amazing but natural-looking smile. They provide a long-lasting appearance of beautiful white teeth and give you an aesthetically-pleasing Hollywood smile.

Traditional veneers require removal of the top layer of teeth, and once this enamel has gone it cannot grow back. Lumineers usually need no removal of enamel, which makes the process less invasive, generally involving no anesthesia and minimal post-procedure discomfort. Removal of enamel for conventional veneers can also make teeth sensitive to hot and cold food and drinks. With Lumineers, you don’t have to worry about this problem.

Many dentists offer veneers but not all dentists are trained in the Lumineers process, so make sure you find a Certified Lumineers Dentist.