Veneers vs Lumineers Which one is Best for your Situation

The question of veneers vs Lumineers don’t get the attention of say... Mayweather vs McGregor, Apple vs Samsung, or Cavs vs Warriors. But, if you’re looking for that winning smile, it’s a question you’re probably pondering. So let’s dive in and see how veneers and Lumineers compare. The first thing to understand is that Lumineers is a brand of veneers. So, on the surface, they both do the exact same thing.

Both are a thin shell that is placed over your original teeth to improve their appearance. Kind of like putting a new case on your phone or a furniture cover over that old worn down couch in your living room. And they both help fix the same types of issues with your teeth. This includes issues like teeth that are chipped, cracked, discolored, misshapen, stained, or have gaps between them. Veneers and Lumineers are both custom made just for your unique situation, can last you a long time, and are easy to maintain.

While traditional veneers are about 0.5mm thick, Lumineers are much thinner. They are only around 0.2mm thick. There are pluses and minuses to this. On the plus side is the procedure itself. When placing traditional veneers, some of the original teeth usually need to be reshaped or removed. Your dentist will do this by filing down the enamel on your teeth. This leaves the tooth unprotected until the veneer is placed on it.

While not a major, painful procedure, it’s generally recommended that a local anesthetic is used. Lumineers don’t require all that. Your original tooth is left as is… no filing or reshaping necessary (because of how thin Lumineers are). The Lumineers are simply fitted over your existing tooth (or teeth). Another bonus is that this makes the procedure for getting Lumineers much quicker when compared to traditional veneers. And no anesthesia is required. So if you’re not a big fan of shots and drilling (and, quite frankly, who is?) then Lumineers will seem like a more attractive option for you.

Lumineers are not ideal for everyone and every situation though. One knock against Lumineers is that they are wafer-thin. And because of that, if you’re using them to cover heavily stained or discolored teeth, Lumineers may not do the trick. Some people also say Lumineers can take a while to get used to it. Because none of the original teeth is shaved down, they can feel bulky and be harder to clean once placed in your mouth.

There are also some who say that Lumineers may not last as long as porcelain veneers because they are thinner. And, if you’re a teeth grinder, it’s recommended you use a mouth guard at night to protect your Lumineers. So which one is best for your situation? The only way to know that is to have a highly qualified cosmetic dentist evaluate your mouth and discuss your options with you.