Lumineers are a popular brand of veneers that dentists use to disguise chips, gaps, discoloration, crooked teeth, and other imperfections, to create a more beautiful smile. Made of Cerinate porcelain that's bonded to the front of your existing teeth, Lumineers veneers are thinner and more translucent than traditional porcelain veneers. The painless application procedure typically takes two visits to a certified Lumineers dentist, in some cases with no drilling or injections.
The procedure can require less advanced prep work than porcelain veneers, which is why their marketing calls them âNo Prep Veneers.â However, Pittsburgh dentist Dr. Andy Shieh cautions patients, âDonât believe the ads on Lumineers as âno prep.â Yes, there are cases that shouldnât require any prep, but the majority will require some.âÂ
Dr. Steven Davidowitz, a cosmetic dentist in New York City, clarifies that âThe goal of Lumineers is to be no prep to minimal preparation, which means less shaving of teeth prior to application.â But he says itâs false to assume that teeth always need to be shaved before traditional veneers are applied. âIt all comes down to case by case basis. The same patients that are candidates for no-prep Lumineers can be candidates for no-prep traditional veneers.â
Most RealSelf members say their Lumineers are âWorth It,â but some dentists on RealSelf prefer traditional veneers. âLumineers can appear bulkier, and I believe they donât provide the beautiful natural translucency toward the bottom of the tooth that porcelain veneers [or natural teeth] do,â says Dr. Charles Nottingham, a dentist in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Pros of Lumineers
Cons
Your cost will depend on how many teeth youâre having done, how much your provider charges per tooth, their level of experience, and their practice location.
Dental insurance typically doesnât cover elective cosmetic treatments, but call your plan provider to see if you have coverage for veneers. You can also finance cosmetic dentistry procedures through CareCredit.
The Lumineers photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Patients over age 18 who donât have gum disease, missing teeth, large gaps between teeth, or crooked teeth could be good candidates for Lumineers. The issues they hide most effectively include chips or cracks, small gaps, and stains. Because Lumineers add volume, the people who tend to get the best results have small teeth that could benefit from being larger, according to Austin, Texas dentist Dr. Tejas Patel.
If you bite your nails or grind your teeth at night, you may want to consider options other than veneers, which could crack or break.
Lumineers are considered safe, but they come with some risks. These include an altered bite, gum irritation that can lead to gum disease, cracking or chipping, falling off, and tooth sensitivity. People who get Lumineers on some teeth but not others may find that the color doesnât match well.Â
Going to an experienced dentist whoâs been certified in providing Lumineers should prevent a lot of these issues, says Dr. Victoria Veytsman, a dentist in New York City.
There isnât much needed to prepare for Lumineers if your teeth are small and flat. However, some dentists may recommend a gingivoplasty, a procedure that sculpts the gums to look better with your new teeth. If you get this procedure done, youâll need to wait 45 days for your gums to heal before the Lumineers application process. Â
Your dentist may also do a cleaning or light etching and sanding to contour your teeth. Then they'll make a mold of your teeth and send it to the DenMat dental laboratory, where your custom Lumineers will be created.Â
Some dentists offer an optional visit to preview your new smile. They place a temporary adhesive acrylic veneer, also known as a âtrial smile,â on your teeth to show you what your Lumineers will look like. This is a chance to make modifications.
The application process itself isnât painful, so in some cases you wonât need any shots of novocaine, gas, or anesthesia.
First, your dentist will make sure the Lumineers fit your teeth before etching and preparing for placement on your teeth, this includes checking your bite so thereâs no chance of chipping while you talk or chew. Then, your dentist will apply adhesive before placing and bonding each Lumineer, one at a time. Once the adhesive sets, theyâll remove excess cement and your veneers will be polished. The process is very quick, taking one to two hours depending on how many teeth will be covered. You shouldnât need to use ice, gauze, or painkillers.
Results are immediate, and you shouldnât need any downtime or missed days of work.Â
You can expect some minor gum soreness and redness for up to three weeks after your Lumineers are applied. Dr. Shieh says that constant gum bleeding isnât common so alert your dentist if that happens to you, or if you experience prolonged gum inflammation.
You might also have some tooth sensitivity, especially to cold foods and drinks, for up to a year (this is true of traditional veneers as well).
Dentists on RealSelf say Lumineers should last about 20 years, but their longevity hasnât been confirmed by studies. Traditional veneers typically last 10â30 years, depending on how well patients care for them. Â
Your dentist will likely be able to adjust or repair a Lumineer that develops a small crack, chip, or break. A large break or crack will require complete replacement, at your expense.Â
If one of your Lumineers falls off but is still completely intact, your dentist will be able to bond it back onto your tooth.
Itâs important to take good care of your new smile to prevent cracking, breaking, of loss of the veneer itself. âBe gentle with them. That means no chewing ice, biting your fingernails, or opening packages or bottles with your teeth,â says Dr. Shieh. âBrush and floss regularly and see your Lumineers dentist for a checkup at least once a year.âÂ
Lumineers are stain-resistant, so they wonât get discolored by food or drink over time, but studies show you should quit smoking to prevent discoloration.Â
Dr. Scott Greenhalgh, a dentist in Lakewood, Colorado, also advises his patients to wear a night guard to protect against bruxism (teeth grinding).
The primary difference between Lumineers and traditional porcelain veneers is that they can be made significantly thinner (about as thick as a contact lens and half as thick as traditional veneers), so your natural teeth may not need to be shaved down before the Lumineers are attached. This can make the application process faster, easier, and more comfortable. However, it can also lead to the bulky look some dentists see as unnatural.
Other dentists believe the big difference is durability. Dr. Shieh says, âI prefer Lumineers over traditional veneers because the type of material thatâs now being usedâlithium disilicateâis stronger and more durable than traditional porcelain and glass veneers.â
Professional teeth whitening can significantly brighten stained teeth, but you'll need a more serious solution to hide or fix tooth structure damage or deep discoloration.
Updated August 14, 2023