Made by a company in California called DenMat, Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers that are heavily marketed for being an ultra-thin, no-prep option.
Lumineers often appeal to patients who are fearful of the tooth reduction process that comes with traditional porcelain veneers. And some inexperienced dentists like them because they’re easy to place. But you should know that Lumineers are difficult to do beautifully, and there are many reasons why.
First, because of trademark restrictions, Lumineers have to be made in a DenMat laboratory, while other brands of ultra-thin porcelain veneers can be made by the lab and ceramist of the dentist’s choice. Lumineers are not the only brand of ultra-thin porcelain veneers, they’re just extremely well-known because of the company’s marketing efforts.
Second, the DenMat laboratory that makes Lumineers has been criticized by many expert cosmetic dentists for producing less than optimal work. Their work, they say, tends to make the teeth look bulky, a little long, and with an unnatural pasty-white color. It’s a large, impersonal laboratory, and dentists like Dr. Farber who do a lot of cosmetic dentistry generally have a strong working relationship with a top-of-the-line dental ceramist. They feel that an intimate relationship like that is important to producing the most beautiful results for their patients.
While working without any tooth preparation can make it more difficult to get an optimal esthetic result, ultra-thin veneers can still produce a beautiful smile, and if you’re interested in them, Dr. Farber will be more than happy to design a treatment plan that is right for you. However, she prefers brands other than Lumineers.
Your Smile Makeover Choice
The best piece of advice we can offer regarding Lumineers is this: do not worry about choosing the right brand of porcelain veneers. Instead, seek out a highly qualified cosmetic dentist.
Dr. Farber is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, has completed post-graduate training from Columbia University, and backs up her work with a beautiful smile guarantee. Click here to see Dr. Farber’s smile gallery, which shows before and after pictures of smile makeovers using porcelain veneers.
If you are interested in Lumineers, call our office to schedule an examination or use the schedule an appointment form. If you’re not ready to commit to an exam, just ask for a complimentary consultation. Dr. Farber will listen to what you’re looking for in a smile makeover and answer any questions you might have about the available choices.
