Lumineers are a popular brand of no-prep veneers with a strong marketing strategy. You’ve likely learned about these veneers from a friend, from television ads, or an online search, and you wonder if they’re right for you.
While Lumineers are remarkably strong, there are other brands that are just as strong. And Lumineers have a few serious drawbacks that other brands don’t have. It’s important to understand these downsides since including veneers in your smile makeover is a major decision and you want to have them done right the first time.
Cons of Lumineers
Lumineers aren’t your most aesthetic option
The veneers are produced under trademark by a company called DenMat which requires that their veneers be made exclusively in the large, impersonal Lumineers dental lab in California. Unfortunately, this lab has been criticized by cosmetic dentists as producing smile makeovers that look bulky and fake. Many cosmetic dentists, like Dr. Marion, prefer using brands that don’t have this restriction, so that they can have veneers fabricated by master ceramists who give each case personal attention. Outsourcing veneer design to a lab that lacks that personal touch can result in suboptimal restorations for you the patient.
Lumineers can be bulky.
Lumineers may be ultra-thin, but even that little bit of material can make your teeth feel noticeably bulkier. Some patients who got these veneers actually complain that their upper lip catches on their veneers. They also tend to make the teeth longer. Also, since Lumineers don’t lie perfectly flush with the tooth, they have a slight ridge near the gum line which attracts plaque and stain and may even cause gum irritation.
Lumineers don’t look as realistic as other veneers.
The slight bulkiness of Lumineers combined with the limited customization results in veneers that can look chalky and fake. Take a look at the before-and-after photos below:
Before Lumineers
After Lumineers
The veneers did help to close up gaps and brighten the teeth, but you can see that the teeth look bigger, rounder, and more opaque than normal. This case could turn out much better if it were done with a little more artistry.
No-prep veneers aren’t completely harmless to teeth.
Lumineers eliminate the need for tooth preparation because they’re thin enough to lie directly over your enamel. Avoiding tooth prep sounds ideal, but this doesn’t mean the veneers won’t affect the underlying teeth. If you need to have the no-prep veneers removed one day, a dentist will have to grind them off. This removal process itself can damage your enamel.
Porcelain Veneers by Dr. David P Marion
Dr. Marion enjoys providing smile makeovers that deliver the most lifelike results possible. That’s why he prefers to place traditional porcelain veneers customized to suit each individual patient. If you’re interested in getting veneers that have been crafted with the greatest attention to detail, then visit Dr. Marion to ask him about his smile design process.
To learn more, you may either call our office or fill out our Request an Appointment form and we will call you.