I have longed for a smile makeover for some time now. I keep seeing these advertisements for Lumineers and love how the results look. I went to see my dentist about it and he said he’d be happy to give me a smile makeover, but doesn’t use Lumineers. Shouldn’t I get to pick?
Carrie
Dear Carrie,
Lumineers are highly marketed. It’s likely the only brand you’ve heard of for that reason. They’re also highly marketed to inexperienced dentists as being easy to place, but there are a few good reasons your dentist is suggesting something else.
They Require Use of Their Lab
Lumineers are owned by the DenMat Lab. They require dentists to use their lab. Unfortunately, their lab isn’t known for it’s artistic quality. Many dentists and patients end up disappointed with the results. Good cosmetic dentists usually have a ceramist who they prefer to work with. That’s not possible with Lumineers.
Lumineers Big Selling Point Doesn’t Always Work
They advertise themselves as being easy to place because they’re so thin no tooth preparation is necessary. That really depends on the smile. For some, no tooth prep is fine.
For others, you can end up with a seriously bulky smile. Some have even compared it to having horse teeth. If that’s what you end up with, then they’re not really worth it.
The Key to a New Smile is the Dentist
More than picking the brand of porcelain veneers, you want to pick the dentist. Look at their smile gallery to see if they get beautiful results. Be certain to verify it’s their cases and not stock photos.
If they do, the next step would be to check their reviews. It’s always good to know how people who have actually been there feel about their results and their experience with the dentist himself.
As a final step, make sure they have a beautiful smile guarantee. You want a dentist who is willing to stand behind their results. That means if you’re not satisfied, they’ll do it over.
This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Steven Collins.