LUMINEERS

Lumineers are 0,3 mm-thin or even less porcelain veneers which may cover partially or completely the external surface of the front teeth, changing the tooth shape or size, correcting fractures and tooth cracks and perfecting teeth outlines. Unlike traditional veneers, they have more translucency than actual color, and this reflects light to a greater extend giving the image of a white and bright smile. Their biggest advantage is that they are placed without preparing or drilling teeth, which makes the treatment extremely convenient and upon request lumineers can be removed, gaining back the old smile appearance. Despite their minimum thickness, longevity of lumineers is the same as with the traditional porcelain veneers, as they act as a single unit when bonded on teeth. For a symmetrical smile, at least 4 or 6 lumineers must be placed on upper front teeth. However, if a single cracked tooth needs to be restored, then a traditional veneer is the best alternative, because one lumineer placed among natural teeth will glow differently and create an unnatural result. Their placement on lower teeth is not always possible, since occlusion plays an important role and should be individually checked by the aesthetic dentist. Lumineers are contra-indicated for heavy teeth grinders, because of high risk of debonding as well as when teeth masking of extreme staining with veneers is needed. At these cases, lumineers cannot effectively cover the discolorations due to their small thickness, and therefore traditional porcelain veneers are preferred, or additional teeth bleaching is performed before restoring the smile with lumineers. Lumineers can also be placed on ceramic or zirconia crowns, or even on traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, in order to correct the shape, size or color of the old prosthetic restorations, without the need for removal.

Lumineers are fabricated with the most conservative veneering technique, while color, size and shape are completely customizable to fit every wish and need. Therapy planning starts with a digital smile design at the computer based upon face characteristics, smile properties and appearance of natural teeth. Special features like gaps between teeth, misaligned teeth, black triangles between teeth and gingiva are taken into consideration at the crucial step of design. Digital smile design technique also allows you to take a first look on how your teeth will look like after the treatment. This can also be visualized by “mock-up technique” which literally creates your new smile on your teeth or on a cast with provisionals, so that you can check the result before even touching the teeth. After impression taking, lumineers are fabricated by specialized ceramists in Europe and in USA and 2 weeks after they are bonded with composite resin on the natural tooth surfaces and recreate the perfect smile. At the meantime no provisional veneers are needed because teeth are not prepared! Bonding of lumineers is completely painless and no local anesthesia is needed. If no modifications are needed, dental treatment with lumineers requires just 2 visits at Smiles Dental Clinic.

Lumineers practically last for many years, offer color stability and after years remain as glossy and bright as the first time they were placed. Their duration exceeds 18-20 years and is greater than the duration of conventional porcelain veneers, since the material from which they are made is stronger. For their maintenance, a professional teeth cleaning once per year is needed, with instruments that do not harm, scratch or at any way traumatize porcelain.