A perfect smile is a cornerstone for a self-conscious and confident person. Unfortunately, issues such as stained teeth, cracked teeth, and poorly aligned teeth can significantly affect your smile and self-confidence. Anyone with these problems should seek dental services such as Lumineers to improve his or her smile and regain their confidence. Northridge Dentist has the reputation of providing Lumineers to clients with various dental problems in Northridge, CA.
Understanding Dental Lumineers
Lumineers are types of veneers that have been popular in recent times. Therefore, they can be described as veneers but with more advanced technology. Veneers are thin, shells that are custom made that mimic the tooth color made to cover the frontal part of the teeth and revamp your appearance. The shells are attached to the teeth to change their size, length, and shape.
Comparison Between Lumineers and Veneers
Since there is a significant relationship between Lumineers and veneers, it is essential to learn the difference between the two options. Their differences and similarities apply across various aspects. Let’s have a closer look at these aspects.
Preparation
The use of porcelain veneers have been around for a very long time, and the modern adoption of porcelain veneer has made a tremendous impact. Whenever a dentist is preparing a tooth for a veneer, the tooth structure should be drilled to allow the bonding of the material to it.
On the other hand, Lumineers are considered as non-preparation dental procedures. Cleaning and light sanding is enough to prepare a tooth for Lumineer. Therefore, one will not be expecting a shot of anesthesia as in veneers, and there is minimal discomfort, or the need to use acrylic temporaries during your dental visits.
Application
One of the things that are similar between veneers and Lumineers is their application. Both dental treatment options rely on customization of the porcelain shell to fit your smile. Your dentist will place them temporarily on you to evaluate whether they match the expected placement and appearance. Once you are content with the veneers, they will be bonded to ensure that they maintain a long-lasting and incredible smile.
Composition
Veneers are thin and durable. On the other hand, Lumineers are made out of porcelain made from the Den-Mat Lab. The level of technology and research that has been put on this material makes it hard to beat this product. The porcelain material used to make Lumineers is digitally designed to ensure that they are ultra thinner compared with veneers.
Appearance
One thing that most patients are not aware of is that veneers are not just a matter of color, but the excellence of their translucency. Natural teeth can reflect light, and without this simple detail, your smile makeover will not appear as natural as you expect. Therefore, the customized and meticulous nature of the porcelain veneers does not achieve the level of natural smile that one would like to get.
However, with the case of Lumineers, their thinness and limited color may not be pleasurable to most patients. They do not look as natural as porcelain veneers and could also fall flat. They are still white, although they appear to be more opaque and lack the all-important translucency. Nevertheless, they are still attractive due to their thin composite, which makes them lack the thickness and room needed to manifest like porcelain restoration.
Eligibility
Not everyone is eligible to use Lumineers. They may be incredibly thin but might appear to be thick, bulky, and chunky, which is different from the expectation of the patient.
Benefits of Choosing Lumineers as Your Cosmetic Dentistry Option
Before you consider Lumineers as your cosmetic dentistry option, you have to be sure of the advantages that it poses compared to other available options. This will help you determine whether you are making the right choice or not. Here are several benefits of selecting Lumineers that you need to know about.
Lumineers Address Permanent Teeth Discoloration and Stains
Up to now, veneers have been the main option when it comes to dealing with discolored teeth. However, with the technological advancement of Lumineers, anyone seeking cosmetic dentistry has a long-lasting alternative to consider. The main advantage that Lumineers have over veneers is the capacity to fix even the most stubborn stains. It can do away with what you could have thought to be permanent stains and discoloration.
There is No Need to Remove Part of The Affected Tooth’s Structure
Every year there are reports of people who are suffering from traumatic dental injuries. These injuries are common in athletes and victims of falls, trips, and falls. If you have suffered from a broken tooth, restoring it will require removing part of the tooth structure, which involves scraping away portion of the enamel.
However, with Lumineers, there is no need to remove part of the enamel during the preparation, meaning that the dentist does not have to modify your tooth structure. Also, the process is reversible if it does not meet your expectations.
Lumineers Bridge the Small Gaps Between Teeth
Not every person is capable of pulling off the gap between their teeth. Some people are uncomfortable with such a situation, and they usually consider putting up a veneer. However, since the dentist will remove part of the teeth structure to accommodate the veneer, the gap will widen due to the process. In that case, Lumineers are the best option since it bypasses the teeth removal procedure.
Prevents Tooth Decay in Damaged Teeth
A lot of people complain of tooth decay every year. Tooth decay results from poor oral hygiene and overeating sugar. Also, untreated physical damages such as chips can be a significant cause of tooth decay.
That’s why it is recommendable to have your broken or chipped tooth fixed as soon as possible to stop bacteria from weakening and damaging your affected tooth. In that case, Lumineers would be the best, less invasive option that you should consider.
Lumineers Reinforce the Teeth Against Damage
Failing to address your chipped teeth can lead to irreversible degradation. The outer layer of the teeth is the hardest tissue in the body, but inside it is soft and sensitive due to the presence of nerves and dental pulp. If decay-causing bacteria can break down the enamel, it would take less to mess up with the rest of the teeth. Therefore, if you take a lot of time delaying the damage, the higher are the risks of getting a cavity.
Luckily, with the use of Lumineers, you can fix the damage and fix the damage and reinforce the teeth. Also, Lumineers can protect composite-filled teeth since it is skinny enough to fit on a tooth that has an existing filling.
Improves the Appearance of Crowns and Bridgework
The use of crowns and bridgework has successfully helped a lot of Americans to gain their confidence. They are useful in improving the function of the teeth apart from correcting the aesthetic issues. Crowns are different from veneers since they cover the entire tooth rather than the front surface. They are also thicker and would require the dentist to remove part of the tooth structure to accommodate it.
Veneers may be a suitable option to consider, primarily when you use Lumineers. Lumineers are thinner and can be used to improve the looks of a person, even with an existing crown or bridge. This will help in reducing the possibility of stain on them.
Lumineers are Longer Lasting and are Reversible Alternatives Compared with Traditional Veneers
Traditional veneers can last for ten years. However, studies have shown that Lumineers can last more than two decades, making them a better option. Also, in case a patient is dissatisfied with the results of the Lumineers, he or she can have them removed. The reverse process will not affect your teeth in any way, making the procedure more reliable. However, it is unlikely to experience dissatisfaction with Lumineers based on the quality or result that it achieves.
Lumineers Offer a Painless Smile Restoration Process
A lot of Americans fear dentist visits, leaving untreated tooth decay, which worsens with time. However, Lumineers play a great advantage since their installation is painless and does not consider the removal of part of the teeth structure. One does not have to undergo anesthesia or any sort of numbing process.
Therefore, this is an ideal solution for people who have dental anxiety or phobia, and yet they would like to seek dental services to improve their smile.
Lumineers Guarantees Whiter and Healthier Teeth
Smiling is an essential part of human living. The teeth have a lot of impact on how people smile and how other people consider the smile. However, most people are embarrassed about their smile due to their stained or crooked teeth. Others might think that their teeth are small or have some cosmetic concern, which puts a lot of stress on their mental strength.
However, Lumineers would be a good starting point in improving your smile since they have a whiter and healthier appearance compared with traditional veneers.
Lumineers Helps Your Overall Health
There is a strong link between oral health and systemic illness. Unhealthy teeth and decay might end up contributing to your heart disease or diabetes. It can also pave the way for respiratory infections. Therefore, with a remarkable cosmetic dentistry option such as Lumineer, you are sure of reducing the possibility of experiencing health issues related to unhealthy teeth.
Cost-effectiveness
Although different factors might influence the cost of Lumineers, they go at the same price as traditional porcelain veneers on average. Even so, the cost of handling your dental problem using Lumineers may vary depending on the dentist that you choose.
Possible Cons of Lumineers
On the flip side of Lumineers, they do not need much attention compared to natural teeth. Therefore, your teeth can feel thicker compared to a veneer, which requires the shaving and grinding of the teeth to fit it. Since Lumineers do not require any sort of preparation, they may provide a thicker feeling of the teeth, making the wearer uncomfortable.
Also, since Lumineers provide a thicker feeling, they might end up affecting the gum line, causing irritation and inflammation on the gums.
Another con of Lumineers is that they are hard to mask the natural teeth if they have any staining or discoloration. Dental experts are not able to put a lot of color on the Lumineers when making them since they are too thin. Therefore, since dental veneers can cover poor-colored teeth, they can guarantee a remarkable result compared with Lumineers.
Materials Used in Lumineers
Porcelain has been the most common material used in the manufacture of veneers. However, despite its strength, it has not achieved the level of durability that you would like to meet. Therefore, there has been a need for a more advanced material that can withstand force and maintain its suitability for a long time.
In that case, the discovery of Cerinate porcelain has made it possible to adapt Lumineers in the modern form of cosmetic dentistry. Unlike the traditional method of heating porcelain at high temperatures, a new process has been adopted to manufacture Lumineer. In this process, a powder is sintered-heated to ensure that it fuses and creates a glass-like structure. When this process is happening, a new material known as leucite is formed.
Thanks to the invention of leucite, this Cerinate porcelain is durable and is about five times stronger than tooth enamel. Also, it can be shaped to a precise shape as requested by the patient. Since it is closely related to porcelain, it retains its desirable properties but in a more advanced way. The only difference between the two is that it is translucent, while porcelain has a tooth-like color. Please note, Cerinate is a patented material, meaning that it is not a material that exists naturally.
A Step by Step Procedure for Installing Lumineers
A Lumineer procedure should take two or three appointments. The first appointment entails an evaluation of the dentist to determine whether Lumineer is suitable for your cosmetic dentistry. In the second and probably the third appointment, the dentist will undertake the patient through the Lumineer installation process. Let’s have a closer look at what happens during the installation of Lumineer.
Preparation of Lumineers
When a dentist is preparing your mouth for Lumineer, several distinct procedures are undertaken. First, the dentist will clean your teeth with Porcelain Laminate Polishing paste and rinse it. In the second step, the dentist will perform a small enameloplasty with a preparation diamond bur to refresh the enamel. The dentist will apply light pressure by using the whole length of the bur and keeping contact with the teeth.
In the third step, the dentist will isolate the teeth that will be receiving the Lumineers by applying a Paint-On-Dental Dam or placing a metallic interdental strip to prevent the etchant from contacting the adjacent teeth.
In the fourth step, the dentist will etch the teeth using the Etch ‘N’ Seal for twenty seconds, rinse the teeth thoroughly, and allow it to dry.
In the fifth step, the dentist is expected to choose the appropriate color of the Ultra-Bond (Cement). The dentist will pick a shade according to the appearance of the patient’s stain. The dentist should refer to the instructions provided in the kit to proceed to the next step.
Please note, once the dentist has selected the appropriate color, the internal surfaces of the Lumineers should not retreat.
The dentist will proceed into applying the Ultra-Bond as a way to prepare the Lumineers and put them in place. The Ultra-Bond will self-cure itself for 22 minutes. Once the placing is done, the dentist will remove the excess Ultra-Bond with a soft brush made out of Dab-Eze sponges or Tenure S sponges.
After doing away with the excess Ultra-Bond, the dentist will use Sapphire Plasma Arc Curing Light to remove the remaining excess material. Besides that, the minimal excess cement that remains will be removed with a brush that has a Tenure S coating.
The Lumineers should be completely light-cured to expose each surface for five seconds with a Sapphire Plasma Arc.
Finishing Process
It is essential to distinguish the finishing process from the rest since it marks the kind of results that you want to achieve. Dentists are recommended to use the Lumineers finishing kit marked number 033897100 since it has all the tools needed in this process.
The process starts with the use of the Den-Mat’s Schure 349 device to remove the cured cement from the margins of the gum and the area that is interproximal along the facial and lingual part of the mouth. You can also use the H246LUF012 bur, which is a remarkable device that can clean the residual resin cement and finish the composite.
The dentist will proceed to remove the Porcelain ledge and trim the margins of the porcelain veneer using the extra-fine diamond bur. This will prompt him or her to explore the structure near the Cerinate Lumineer to check the margins where there should be no bump. If the process does not give excellent results, one can decide to use the fine diamond bur again.
Finally, the dentist will check the bite using an articulating paper. Your dentist should use the 8379-018 burs to adjust the high spots and lengths depending on the results achieved from correcting the bite.
How to Take Care of Your Lumineers
The secret behind the longevity of your Lumineers depends on the steps that you consider taking care of them. This will help you achieve the two-decade period that Lumineers are expected to stay. Here are several instructions that you need to consider when taking care of your porcelain.
Dieting
You should take soft food for the first 24 to 48 hours after the Lumineer placement process. Taking soft food will prevent any kind of unusual movement that might distort the cement that attaches the Lumineers.
Brush and Floss
Just like your natural teeth, you need to keep your Lumineer looking and feeling good. You do not have to change your oral hygiene practices. Therefore, you should regularly brush your teeth and floss between your teeth. This will help in removing bacteria away from your teeth, keeping teeth free from any damage or further decaying.
Maintain Regular Dental Visits
One of the most suitable ways to keep your teeth and gum healthy is to visit a professional dentist now and then. It is recommendable to seek dental services at least twice a year or after six months. However, after receiving your Lumineers, you should keep your visit at a closer range to ensure that they are safe and address any problem before they become permanent.
Do Away With Staining Liquids and Foods
Foods and beverages with dark hues can end up staining your teeth over time. This happens whether the teeth have Lumineer or not. If you use tea, coffee, or dark fruit juice, you might end up dulling your teeth. Also, smoking can cause staining of your Lumineers. However, dulling and staining are rare with Lumineer, but the same problem might exist if the one continues to use products that can cause staining.
Beware of What You Bite
You should not only focus on keeping your Lumineers bright and white, but you should ensure that you do not crack or break. Although the material used in manufacturing Lumineer is durable, hard objects might cause unwanted damage. Therefore, avoid biting hard things such as your fingernails, nuts, pens, and other similar objects.
Find a Northridge Dentist Near Me
Lumineers mark a significant development in cosmetic dentistry. It represents novel and cost-effective ways, especially when compared with traditional veneers. Since they are a new and advanced veneer, any patient seeking this procedure should find a professional dentist who understands the process of installing them. Not all professional dentists are in a position to apply them, and only few dentists maintain the standards provided by the manufacturer. Northridge Dentist has acquired a reputation of offering remarkable services when it comes to Lumineer application. If you are living in Northridge, CA, contact us at 818-875-0216 and make an appointment with us.
