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Lumineers or crowns?

June 22, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 1:38 pm

I have some front teeth that not only have a gap between them, but are also off to the right a little, which puts another gap to the left. My dentist wants to do crowns on them. I suggested Lumineers or another type of porcelain veneers. He said that veneers are problematic and he only does crowns. I keep hearing from other people that they’re a great option, but don’t want to push the issue if my dentist is right. Do you have a recommendation? Other than the gaps and positioning the teeth are healthy, so I didn’t want to grind them down if I didn’t need to.

Daisy F. – New Mexico

Daisy,

Porcelain veneers in themselves aren’t problematic, but they might be for your dentist. Based on what you said, he is strictly a general dentist and has no cosmetic skills.  You’re right that porcelain veneers would be less invasive than crowns. Most dentists would hate to take away healthy tooth structure.

In this case you have two choices.

  1. You can stick with your dentist and go with the crowns.  Make sure he can address the off-center issue. You don’t just want to fill in the gaps with the crowns and still have them off center. Dont’ push him into the veneers or it will end up a disaster. He’s just not qualified to do them.
  2. You can find and experienced cosmetic dentist and have them do either Lumineers or another brand of porcelain veneers. Let your cosmetic dentist decide which brand, because they all have different pros and cons and he or she will know which brand will work best for your smile.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

How Do I Whiten My Lumineers?

April 29, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 10:06 pm

I paid quite a large sum for Lumineers and they’re stained in just a few years. He never warned me that the composite bonding would stain so quickly. I can’t afford new ones. I thought he said they’d last for years. I know  that regular teeth whitening won’t work on veneers, but is their some special technique to whiten them?

Carly T. – Delaware

Carly,

Unfortunately nothing whitens cosmetic work, no matter what kind it is.  I’m a little concerned about what is going on in your particular case though.  You said you received Lumineers. Any type of porcelain veneer should last you for many years, some even your lifetime. They should not be picking up stains in just a few years.

I’m wondering if you didn’t get veneers, but maybe composite bonding as you mentioned that as well. Those will only last a few years and will need to be replaced.

Ask your dentist to be clear about which procedure you received. If it is Lumineers, something at your last check up damaged the glazing. Possibly they used something like a prophy jet on it, which would damage the Lumineers.

You may want to have another dentist look at them and give you a second opinion as to which procedure you actually received. If there was some incompetence or deception, the other dentist can help you in trying to get a refund.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Would Lumineers be a good temporary makeover?

February 27, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:13 pm

I have a class reunion coming up and am not thrilled with my teeth. I don’t have a ton of money and was thinking of getting snap on smile. It seems pretty reasonably priced. My dentist suggested lumineers because they’re better. I wanted to get a second opinion before deciding. Is it really better?

Teriney T. – Georgia

Teriney,

While your dentist is right that Lumineers are better than snap-on smile, they are not temporary. Plus, the cost significantly more than snap-on smile.

Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers. In other words, they’re tiny wafers of porcelain that get permanently bonded onto your teeth after your dentist has them made to his specifications.

If you just want something for that one night and don’t want to spend any significant amount of money, then I’d stick with your plan of snap-on smile.  If you want to invest in a permanent, gorgeous smile, then Lumineers (or any other brand of porcelain veneers) would be the better option.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Are there thin veneers besides Lumineers?

December 31, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:10 pm

I want to get porcelain veneers. I don’t want Lumineers because I’ve heard so many bad things about them.  My dentist said if I don’t get them, my teeth will have to be ground down. I don’t want that either. Are there other thin veneers?

Miranda R. – Benton, AR

Miranda,

Your dentist is misleading you.  Your teeth don’t have to be “ground down” for porcelain veneers. That is what needs to happen for dental crowns. With porcelain veneers, there is only mild shaving; about the thickness of a fingernail. In fact, there is no real visible difference between the shaved on unshaved teeth.

I suspect your dentist is saying that because he doesn’t have the skill to do other brands. Lumineers are marketed to dentists as being super easier to place because they “require” no shaving. Unfortunately, that’s just not true in every case. Often they end up looking bulky.

There are other brands of ultra-thin veneers, but your best bet is to find a great cosmetic dentist. He’ll be able to give you the most suitable porcelain veneers to give you a gorgeous smile.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Teeth don’t match

October 23, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:56 pm

I had a lumineer put on a front tooth.  It is the same color as the other tooth, but it looks bulkier.  To me it looks weird, but my dentist says he can’t see a difference. Is that all in my head?

Nancy G. – Logan, UT.

Nancy,

It’s likely that it is bulkier, especially if your dentist didn’t do any tooth preparation. Lumineers are marketed as being prep-free. However, most experienced cosmetic dentists know that it really depends on the particular patients smile more than anything else.  If your dentist didn’t do any prep than, yes, your tooth is likely bulkier than the other one.

A good cosmetic dentist will never try to force their patient to like their veneers.  First, it should be put on with a temporary paste so the  patient has an opportunity to look at it and decide if they like it. If they’re not thrilled, it should be back to the drawing board.

Unfortunately, if your dentist has already permanently bonded on, then there is nothing that can be done except to have the lumineer completely re-done.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Need an alternative to Lumineers

August 29, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 9:57 pm

I have a problem.  I wanted to improve my smile.  I didn’t want braces, mostly because I am 37 years old and would feel very self-conscious at work. I have some crooked teeth and my teeth are discolored. That’s mostly because I’m getting older and drink a lot of coffee. So I want to straighten my teeth and whiten them. My dentist said Lumineers will do that. I did some research and it seems like a lot of dentists seem to think that they’re bulky, which confuses me because they’re supposed to be ultra thin.  I don’t see how that can both be true.  I’m looking for alternatives.

Abigail L. – Arizona

Abigail,

First, I’m going to address how Lumineers can be both ultra thin and bulky.  I know it sounds oxymoronic, but there is a reason for both of those comments about Lumineers. First, they are ultra thin veneers. They are made ever so slightly thinner than traditional veneers. Because of this they are often advertised as easy to place because no-prep for the teeth is “necessary”.

What that often leads to  is dentists who are inexperienced in cosmetic dentistry placing Lumineers, because they’re “easier” than most.  The turth is, Lumineers are no more easy than other brands.  And some teeth need prep, no matter how thin the veneers are. When they don’t get it, the teeth end up looking bulky.

So, the key is to find a really experienced cosmetic dentist. One that your comfortable trusting with your smile.  Then, have him tell you why he thinks a certain brand is right for you–especially if he is recommending lumineers, which many artistic cosmetic dentists don’t feel are up to the high standards of other brands.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Tired of arguing with my dentist about Lumineers

June 30, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 12:07 pm

I’m hoping you can help me.  I told my dentist that I want lumineers, but he’s insisting I get porcelain veneers. I specifically wanted lumineers so I wouldn’t have to grind my teeth down.  I wanted the thin ones.  Can you give me some information that will help me convince him?

Lucienne- South Dakota

Lucienne,

Lumineers are highly marketed, but there are some misconceptions about them.  First, you need to be aware, that they aren’t different than porcelain veneers. They are simply one brand of porcelain veneers. Though they are ultra-thin, they are certainly not the only brand of ultra -thin veneers.

A second misconception is that your teeth need to be ground down in order to place porcelain veneers. The dental treatment that requires grinding is porcelain crowns. Veneers are totally different.  Your tooth does require some mild preparation, but it only changes your teeth abou the depth of a fingernail. It is so insignificant that people won’t be able to tell the difference between a prepared or unprepared tooth.

I would trust your lumineers in this case. If he’s not too keen on you using lumineers, he must think that a different brand will give you a more attractive smile.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Lumineers over crowns

April 29, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:51 pm

I had some old, dingy crowns that embarrassed me.  My dentist told me that he could place lumineers over the old crowns to “restore” them, but they don’t look much better. There is still the gray line at my gumline. To me they look a little opaque.  Now three of them have fallen off.  My dentist has offered to put them back on, but I’m wondering if I should just ask for my money back on the ones that fell off.  They were pretty expensive to place.

Amelia L. – Little Rock, AR

Amelia,

What a bad experience you’ve been through.  I think I know why your dentist thought this would be a good idea.  The Lumineers company has advertised this as an alternative to replacing old crowns.  First, I’ll have to say this is a very advanced procedure that also requires specialized equipment. Second, even when pulled off, it doesn’t look beautiful. As you’ve noticed, you still have the metalic base to deal with, which is why you’ve still got the gray line at your gumline.

The best thing for your dentist to do, would be to replace your crowns with all-porcelain crowns, if he’s artistically able to do that.  The results would be much more beautiful.  I would go back and ask him to replace them with crowns, or give you a full refund and send you to someone who can.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Graying gumline

February 25, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:30 pm

My sister has Lumineers. I like how her smile looks and was thinking of getting them myself. However, lately I’ve noticed that her gumline is starting to have a grayish tint. Is this a result of the Lumineers? Is there anyway to avoid it?

Nina W. – Texas

Nina,

You have an eye for detail. That graying at the gumline is a sign there is something wrong with your sister’s gums. It’s likely been caused by overcontouring of her Lumineers in that area. That’s a little more likely to happen with Lumineers than other brands of porcelain veneers, because of the way they’re made, but if your dentist is skilled enough he or she can avoid over-contouring them.

Make sure you get a dentist that has a lot of skill AND experience with cosmetic dentistry. Also, be open to what your dentist has to say about other brands of porcelain veneers. Don’t lock yourself into one brand. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Your dentist may realize one brand is better than another for the type of smile you want.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Gums have gone gray with Lumineers

December 31, 2014

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , — okcitydentist @ 7:08 pm

I got Lumineers and not my gums have gone gray. I’m a little worried. Is this normal?

Hannah S. – Oakland, CA

Hannah,

You’re right to be concerned. The graying is a sign of a health problem with your gums. This happens with the Lumineers are over contoured at your gums. This is unfortunately a little too common with Lumineers. Their lab does tend to over contour things. It takes a skilled dentist to make sure they are contoured properly.

This can have long term consequences on your smile and your teeth. Gum disease is serious and you could loose your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

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