I can’t imagine a bigger dental nightmare than paying thousands of dollars for Lumineers only to have them start changing colors on me. I am only 8 months into having them and 3 of the my 8 veneers are turning gray. The dentist who I got the Lumineers from implied that the lighting in my house is different from the lighting her office. That has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. They are clearly gray whether I am at home, outside or anywhere else. I think that I may have received a defective lot. Is there some way to identify the lot number and go back to the manufacturer and find out if there are other people who have had this same problem? If there is a recurring problem, I need to let my dentist know. Thanks. Tabitha
Tabitha,
Lumineers are custom made per patient, not in batches. The shade of your veneers is customized based on your dentist’s instructions and your requests for tooth color.
Lumineers are quite thin. Discoloration can be caused by problems with the teeth beneath the veneers, the bonding agent used, or the bonding technique. If porcelain veneers are not secured to the teeth, food or liquid can get between your tooth and veneers and cause discoloration.
Your veneers will need to be removed to identify the cause of discoloration. Because they are so thin, it is unlikely that they can be removed without cracking. Your dentist is probably willing to replace the veneers at no cost to you. If you are fortunate enough to have your veneers come off without damaging them, they can be cleaned off and rebonded to your clean teeth.
In the rare case that the problem is with the Lumineers themselves, they will definitely need to be replaced. Keep in mind that you always have the option of getting a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area. Of course if you choose to switch to a new dentist, you will be responsible for the cost of rebonding or replacing your veneers.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.