Seattle Lumineers doctors
 |
Lance Timmerman, DMD
Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
7100 Fort Dent Way Suite 270, Seattle |
|
20 answers |
 |
Brian Povolny, DDS, PhD
Seattle Orthodontist
411 Strander Blvd. Suite 104, Tukwila |
2 answers | |
 |
Jeff Files, DDS
Seattle Cosmetic Dentist
8178-A 164th Avenue Northeast, Redmond |
Recent Answers
(http://www.wgntv.com/news/medicalwatch/wgntv-lumineer-pkg-sept17,0,1008742.story) It seems that most dentists would recommend that teens use the traditional method of braces to straighten teeth rather than use lumineers. This report says that one teen with small discolored teeth opted for lumineers instead of braces. What else is key in making sure that lumineers are really a smart option for teens? If a teen's bite, jaw is grown and teeth are fairly straight, then they don't seem like they are a candidate for braces in the first place.
Lumineers or other veneers are used for changing the shape, color, or size of front teeth. They have been used to "straighten" crooked front teeth as well, but for a young person with healthy teeth this is not often a good option. This is because it creates an unhealthy contour of the tooth crown near the gumline. Also, any restoration like a veneer can break or have other problems like decay, and thus we assume that the restoration may need to be replaced, possibly repeatedly, over decades. Even in cases where the teeth are too small and need veneers to be wide enough to look normal, orthodontic positioning of the teeth is usually needed to create the proper spacing for a healthy and attractive veneer.
They are too short other than that the rest of my teeth are fine. So will it be less expensive?
Certainly the fee for 2 teeth will be less than a fee for 10, but a per tooth fee is likely higher. The challenge to get the colors to match, the proportions and variation in materials used can all play a factor.
Some cases can be very simple and the fee may be the same as a simple crown. However, if the teeth have other issues, the cost will go up.
Are patiencts generally happier with the color matching results of porcelain over lumineers?
Lumineers are nothing more than a brand of porcelain from a company called Den-Mat. They are a porcelain material and technique that has been around for many years, originally called Cerinate.
The color matching challenges with Lumineers and other brands of porcelain are the same. If anything, Lumineers can be more challenging due to how thin they are. If the teeth underneath are significantly dark, the Lumineers can have a difficult time masking the color.