A beautiful smile is an important part of making a great first impression. Whether you’re a business executive, a student looking for your first job, or just because, having a stellar smile can give you the confidence you need to succeed.
What do LUMINEERS and Veneers do?
LUMINEERS and Veneers both cover up imperfections of a tooth’s surface or shape. They cover the front of the tooth to expose a perfect version of the natural tooth and they can be bonded in a way to make the teeth appear straighter. They are both made out of small sheets of porcelain that adhere to your teeth. Sometimes called “instant orthodontics”, both LUMINEERS and traditional veneers can completely transform your smile.
How are they Similar?
Both veneer systems can be quickly adhered to your teeth and dramatically change your smile. In the first phase, Dr. Ricky Singh will examine the tooth or teeth you would like covered. Typically, X-rays are taken and for veneers, we’ll take a mold of your mouth.
How are they Different?
Traditional Veneers: The next step for veneers is the tooth preparation. This is what differentiates the procedures the most. Irreversible work is done to the natural tooth in order to fit the veneer over the tooth. Most patients require local anesthetic and wear a temporary veneer while the permanent ones are fabricated in a lab.
Alternatively, LUMINEERS® can be applied right away. They are extremely thin, about the size of a contact lens, and can be bonded to the tooth immediately. The dentist needs to do minimal or no prep to the natural tooth therefore a local anesthetic is rarely used.
Not all veneer patients are great candidates for Lumineers. If you have any questions about what restoration is right for you please visit our Berkeley dental office to learn more.