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Dentures Guide

What are Dentures?

Dentures are a replacement for no teeth. Dentures are not real teeth. They are artificial.

Compared to natural teeth, dentures offer 15-20% efficiency.

Denture Guide

Dentures are custom-made to restore the appearance and sometimes improve the beauty of a person. They can also restore part of the oral function that was lost due to the missing teeth of a person.

What are different types of dentures?

Depending on the number of missing teeth, there are two types of dentures:

Complete dentures are made when all teeth are missing. A complete denture has a denture base that is made of acrylic resin. The denture base is colored like the gum tissue of the patient. It supports resin teeth or porcelain denture teeth.

Complete dentures are retained by denture-bearing tissue with the help of greater atmospheric pressure on the outer surface of the dentures.

Partial dentures are made for a partially dentate person. They are retained by the remaining teeth and denture-bearing tissues through clasps and/or attachments and/or intimate contact of the denture and the soft tissues.

How are dentures made?

Dentures are made by your dentist with the help of a dental technician. At first, the preliminary impression of the patient’s lower and upper jaws will be made by the dentist. Your dentist will use the impressions to make study models (casts).

Study casts will guide your dentist in planning your whole prosthodontic treatment. Your dentist will also make custom impression trays which he will use for the final impression-making procedure.

After final impression making, your maxillomandibular relation registration will be recorded. Final models (casts) will be made from the final impressions. The final models will be mounted on an articulator using the maxillomandibular relation registration records as guides.

The trial dentures/wax dentures will be set by your dentist and dental technician from the mounted final models.

Next, your dentist will try-in the wax dentures to you to ensure proper fit and to attain a desirable appearance.

After try-in, the wax dentures will be processed by the dental lab. The next stage is the trimming and polishing of the processed dentures.

When the dentures are done, they will be issued to you by your dentist on the next appointment. Adjustments will be made on the day of issuance.

Further adjustments, if needed, will be made on your next dental appointments.

Are there alternatives to removable dentures?

Yes. Bridges and implants are alternatives to removable dentures.

Fixed Bridges are made for a partially dentate person. The bridge is held by crowns on both ends of the bridge that are cemented on natural teeth or implant abutments. Also called fixed dentures, bridges can be made from reinforced resin, metal, porcelain fused to metal, and all-porcelain.

Dental Implants are artificial tooth roots that a dentist places into a jaw to hold replacement teeth or bridge in place.

Will dentures affect the way a person looks, feels, eats, and speaks?

Yes. Dentures can restore a person’s appearance to a certain degree.

Dentures do affect how you speak – an improved way of speaking compared to no teeth.

Dentures affect how you eat. Compared to natural teeth, you have 15 – 20 % chewing efficiency with your dentures on.

Are dentures worn throughout the day?

Your dentist will tell you if you wear them throughout the day. But generally, it should be taken out at night to allow your gum tissue to rest.

The factors are arranged from the least affordable to the most affordable – being the most expensive option to the least expensive option.

1. Type of Denture
Fixed Denture > Removable Denture
A Fixed Denture (Fixed Bridge) is more expensive than a removable partial denture.

Fixed Denture

Type of material
All-Ceramic bridge > Porcelain fused to metal bridge > Acrylic bridge with metal substructure >
Acrylic bridge
All-ceramic bridge type is ranked the most expensive among the four, making Acrylic bridge the least
expensive type.

Type of abutment
Implant > Milled Crown > Natural Tooth
An Implant abutment is more costly than a Milled Crown and Natural tooth as abutments.
Coverage of retainer
The overall cost of full-coverage crown retainers is more expensive than the Resin Retained type.

Removable Denture

Type of support
Implant-supported denture > Tooth supported denture > Tooth-tissue supported > Soft tissue supported
The price cost of a removable denture will also depend on the support it will depend on. An implant-supported denture is more expensive among them all, making a soft tissue supported the least
expensive.

Type of retainer
Implant retained removable denture > Precision attachment retained removable denture > Clasp retained
removable denture > Soft tissue retained removable denture
Another factor that affects the cost of denture is the type of retainer. Implant retained removable
a denture is the most expensive while ranking a soft tissue retained removable denture the least
expensive option.

1. The rigidity of the denture framework
Flexible framework > Dentures with cast metal framework > All acrylic dentures
The rigidity of denture also affects the denture cost. Dentures with a flexible framework are the most
expensive, making acrylic dentures the least expensive option.

2. Number of missing teeth.
5 missing teeth > 3 missing teeth > 1 missing tooth.
The number of missing teeth is another factor that affects the price of a denture. Rule of thumb: The more
missing teeth, the more expensive dentures are. Hence, a denture with a case of 5 missing teeth
will be more expensive than a denture with 1-3 missing teeth.

3. Location of the missing
3rd factor is the location of missing teeth. Dentures Replacing missing anterior teeth will be more
costly than missing posterior teeth.

4. Specialty of the dentist
The fourth factor is the specialty of the dentist. A dentist that has specialized in a certain field (e.g.
Prosthodontist) will have a more expensive cost of treatment than a General Dentist.

5. Number of treating Dentists
5th factor is the number of treating Dentists working in a particular case. A multi-specialty dental
team will be more costly as it will involve more people of different expertise than a general
practitioner.

6. Location of the dental office
Large city dental offices will be more costly than small-town dental offices.
Dental offices located in the US and European countries will have more expensive dental treatment than dental offices found in Asian Countries.

7. Dental laboratory
7th factor that plays a role in the cost of a denture is the type of Dental Laboratory the dentist works with.
The mark-up price of a denture made by a specialty dental lab is more expensive than a General dental
lab. The location of dental laboratories also plays a role in the cost aspect. Dental laboratories in the US and European countries will charge more, hence dentures will cost more, as compared to Dental Laboratories in Asian Countries.

8. Demand
The 8th factor is demand. Fabrication of a denture that is requested by the patient will greatly affect
the cost, making it more expensive than dentures fabricated according to what the patient needs.

For more information about Dentures Cost, please consult a Dentist. There is no online material nor website that can substitute for professional advice.

Buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive

What Are The Different Types Of Buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive

Bonding. The most obvious function of a good denture adhesive is that it will reliably “glue” the dentures in place, maintaining a secure grip for at least a full day of wear. The strength of this grip varies between brands, but a cheaper Buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive becomes more expensive if it has to be re-applied more often. Apart from reducing your confidence in public if your dentures frequently become loose, weak bonding will restrict the enjoyment of eating a wide variety of foods.

I have a question about step number. You mention we should use our favorite Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive and then take the denture or partial out and rinse until we get the best fit. However, if I use Poligrip or Fixodent and then take the upper part out of my mouth it leaves a gummy sticky mess that comes out on my gums. Can you please address this as I am probably not understanding?

Once you have been referred to an affordable denture specialist, and have tried the best buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive to find your favorite, you will be able to focus on the positive side of wearing dentures. A restored smile, better chewing ability, clear speech, and freedom from toothache and decay are just some of the benefits of wearing well-fitted quality dentures.

GlaxoSmithKline, the makers of Buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive have been in the courts for failing to disclose or warn consumers that it added zinc as a bonding agent to certain Buy Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive. It is alleged that including that element in the ingredient mix without informing consumers puts denture users at risk of zinc poisoning from ingesting excessive amounts of denture adhesive. It is grossly troubling that the consumer should suffer from irresponsible decisions made by big business.

Choosing Your Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive

Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive controls loose dentures by reducing looseness and shifting and a single application lasts up to 4 days of daily cleaning, soaking, and brushing. Won’t wash off in water. Even after repeated cleaning, Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive remains soft and pliable. Recreates a secure seal each time you reinsert your dentures. Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive is SAFE for all plastic and porcelain plates.

Product Details

Holds dentures firmly in place; less slipping
Single application lasts up to 4 days
Won’t wash off in water
Safe for all plastic and porcelain plates
Please read all label information on delivery

Choosing Your Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes

Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes come in three basic forms. There are adhesives that are sold in glue or paste form, powder types and adhesives that come in as thin liners. Each has its own line of advantages. One of the more popular types of adhesives comes in paste form. The product is sold in tube-like containers, similar to regular toothpaste. It is used by squeezing a small amount of the paste into the indented area that goes over your gums. Paste adhesives come in many flavors and strengths allowing consumers to choose from a wide variety of offerings.

Review of Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes provides a fair idea about the various brands available in the market, and their quality. Removable dentures, however, well they fit, will need adhesives after some time, as the contour of your gums keeps changing. If you want to avoid the exorbitant cost of relining your dentures, then denture adhesives are the best solution. Secondly, they enhance the comfort level, and you are assured your dentures will not slip out. However, purchasing a good denture adhesive is quite a daunting process, as there are so many products available in the market, each one claiming to be the best.

This is the denture adhesive I settled on for my upper plate. You have to trim it a bit, then get it wet and mold it to the denture. Once I got the Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes I was happy and didn’t feel like my upper denture would come off while eating.

Main Question:

Do you know of a Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive that does not dissolve when you drink?

Best Answer: by Picture Taker

If you have not had any extractions for several months and the denture fit is basically okay, then any adhesive ~ought~ work. Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes is pretty gooey stuff and works well. The best way to use it if the denture actually fits your tissues pretty well is to put a few dabs here and there and then spread it all over the inside of the denture like you are buttering a piece of toast. It helps if you use a little bit of water on your finger or on the denture itself as you try to do this. A thin coat everywhere is better than 2 or 3 gobs in “strategic” locations, even though that’s the way the directions usually tell you to use it.

If you had recent extractions and the fit of the denture is changing because your gums are still healing and shrinking, then it’s going to be a difficult time until you get the denture relined.

Since you are having trouble with the denture when you are drinking, I’m thinking that maybe the denture is still a little long in some spots and the muscle action involved as you drink liquids is pulling it down a bit and creating a gap somewhere. If you can break the denture loose by grabbing your cheek between your finger and thumb and tugging a little bit, tell your dentist about this and show him what’s going on. It will help him fit the denture with regard to your muscle actions.

Reviews Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive

I’m a 60-year-old semi-professional singer. For years I had battled with the insecure feeling of dentures that seemed to be wobbly, and I was using globs of Poligrip. No longer! Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive has been a lifesaver. This stuff really works! The trick (I have learned) is to get a good impression, and then leave your dentures out in the air for as long as possible. This will cure the plastic and the liner will last much longer. Then, pop in your dentures with a bit of Poligrip and you’re good to go. When they loosen up as the Poligrip degrades, remove and rinse with COLD water. This will let you scrub away the Poligrip without destroying the liner. Also, when the Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive seeps over the top edges of your denture, do not trim it away. If possible, leave it in place. This will make the seal – and the Cushion Grip liner – stay in place longer.

My tips: 1 – I’ve found that I get much better adhesion when I first gently clean the inside surface of the denture (upper) with mild bleach, such as household Clorox dabbed on a paper towel. Rinse thoroughly and dry. If you can smell the bleach, rinse and dry it again! Then apply Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive according to directions. For some reason – maybe because of the disinfectant properties of bleach – the Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive pad stays on much longer before peeling away. 2 – Each time you remove the denture to clean it, dunk it in a cup of generic Listerine (don’t pay for the real stuff; use the cheap generic). Let it soak for a few minutes. 3 – Over a few days, the Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive, 1-Ounce Tubes will “migrate” outwards. Trim the excess and then add a new blob of Cushion Grip in the center of the denture. You’ll extend the life of the pad for a few more days.

Denture Adhesive Reviews

Denture repair glue products have a bad reputation – the general opinion of people on them is that they aren’t able to glue the dentures very well. Most dental glues on the market either can’t hold the prostheses firmly enough, or they can’t hold the prostheses for long enough or a combination of both. Also, a lot of products don’t feel very nice in the mouth – they think “gooey,” so to speak, and sticky inside the oral cavity. This, of course, doesn’t make denture repair glue products look any more attractive.

Denture Adhesive Reviews

Most people use denture glue products for fixing their ill-fitting dentures. If you the dentures don’t fit well, irritation in the mouth is sure to follow, which may result in very unpleasant sores, too. Also, when a denture does not sit correctly, you may notice problems with speech and chewing.

When you get a denture, they usually don’t sit perfectly at first, and several subsequent readjustment appointments are generally needed to adjust their shape and position (these appointments are usually included in the cost of dentures). However, even if the denture seems to sit well, it is still a good idea to use a denture adhesive to make the prosthesis sit firmer. You apply the gluing substance to the base of the ridge, and when it contacts your gum, the gluing effect will occur. However, most denture adhesives do not last for longer than a day, which is the main reason for many people’s complaints.

Denture adhesive products come in three primary forms – paste, wafer-thin liners or powder. While there are a lot of brands out there, picking a denture adhesive product is an individual thing. Some people will prefer one brand, and others will prefer another brand. When you shop online, read denture adhesive reviews to read what other people think of the product before buying it. Pay attention to:

how easy they say it is to apply the adhesive
how pleasantly it feels in the mouth (as in, if it is gooey and sticky or not)
how long the fixation lasts (8 hours is not long, 4 days is very long), how strong the fixation effect is (if you can eat barbeque, steak without your denture moving and dislodging), etc.

Most dentists will recommend you to not rely on denture adhesives because they provide only temporary fixation. Even if you use superglue, which can hold your denture for several days, the saliva in your mouth will deteriorate the glue, and you will need to reapply it once again very soon. If your tooth drops out, you may want to glue it back, of course, to avoid a weird looking smile, but whatever you do, we recommend that you eventually visit a dentist so that he can fix your denture permanently. The cost of repairing such a problem should be around $30, which is a meager price. It is best if you take your denture to a dentist right away also for another reason – if the damage has occurred only recently, it is easier for a dentist to repair your denture, but if you neglect the loss of your denture for too long, the treatment of this problem will become more complicated.

In the end, it is generally acknowledged that if you use super-glue or attempt to repair the denture yourself, the increasing costs will be higher than if you were to go to a dentist. If you must use denture glue, use it only as a temporary solution – to hide the deficiencies of your denture for just long enough to get yourself to the doors of a dental office.

Denture Adhesive Reviews

You know how it feels when your denture just doesn’t fit well. It is especially tiresome blindly trying various denture repair glue products only to get disappointment in the end that the adhesives do not work as well as their product descriptions promised you too. You want a resin that provides a strong grip and is easy to use, and that’s why you need to read denture adhesive reviews because reading testimonials from other people will make it easier to choose a suitable adhesive.

Why Buy Online

Again, reading reviews is very important when buying dental products online. In a sense, buying online is even better than buying in a drugstore because you have access to reviews that are left by others (satisfied or not satisfied) customers. A lot of brands of denture adhesives are sold on the market right now, but a few of them do stand out – Cushion Grip and Rigident powder. Let’s see what the good and bad sides of these bestselling adhesives are.

Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive

This is our first recommendation to you. Cushion Grip Thermoplastic adhesive can hold the dentures for several days in a row if you apply it correctly. It is not the most pleasant feeling of denture glue, which is especially true when you “overheat” it,” as some people say, as if you do so, the glue becomes pretty gooey and sticky. The product description states that it can hold your denture for more than 24 hours – 4 days, to be exact, and this is achievable. You will get instructions on how to use it once the product is delivered to your house. The grip is firm, too, and you should have no difficulty using this one when eating meat or hard-to-chew types of food. We recommended this to our friends, and they haven’t complained about this product yet, and instead, have praised it pretty highly.

Pros

Strong Hold. Eat without being self-conscious about your dentures.
Can hold your dentures for up to 4 days, indeed.

Cons

Can be gooey and is not very easy to use at first.

Buy Rigident Denture Adhesive Powder

The most exciting thing about this product is that it has been on the market for a long time – one of the reasons why it elicits more trust from us. The Cushion Grip adhesive we presented above might not appeal to everyone, for one reason or another, and Rigident denture adhesive powder is a good alternative. Most denture adhesive powders are capable of holding the dentures for 6 to 8 hours max. And to our surprise, Rigident was capable of retaining the grip for 24 hours (in fact, its potential is higher than that – you need to read the comments on Amazon).

Also, Rigident feels sweet inside the mouth, something that most other denture adhesives lack. No more stickiness and an unpleasant feeling in your mouth, in other words. You can apply the powder to your denture and not worry that it will somehow deteriorate your ability to enjoy food. While some people may disagree, Rigident is a “veteran” in this market and has proved to work for many people.

Pros

Great if you are skeptical about other “newer” products
Strong Hold.
Not gooey, very easy to use
A veteran in the market of “denture adhesives.”

Cons

Not many. Well, maybe except for the fact that they cannot be found offline anymore.

However, we recommend that you visit your dentist if your denture is broken – the repair procedure is usually included in the cost of dentures, too, if the dentures broke due to mistakes by the dentist who crafted them.

How to Apply Denture Adhesive

Properly applying denture adhesive is essential when the wearer is to enjoy a secure fit that causes it to be easy to smile or eat without feeling self-conscious. Even if dentures are a perfect fit, there is still the need to use a recommended adhesive to avoid denture slipping or other situations that may prove embarrassing. Seriously consider the quantity of adhesive used, and apply the product at strategic points across the area in which the dentures get in touch with the gums.

A special type of best denture adhesive is cushion grip. This product is applied like cream or paste. It might be a little messy until you figure out just how much to use. However, some cushion grip adhesives can keep your dentures comfortably in your mouth for up to four days. The other adhesives last for anywhere from a few hours to one day.

Top 5 Best Best Denture Adhesive

1. Cushion Grip Thermoplastic Denture Adhesive

Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive controls loose dentures by reduction of looseness and shifting along with a single application that lasts up to 4 times of daily cleaning, soaking, and brushing. Won’t wash off in water. Despite repeated cleaning, Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive remains soft and pliable. Recreates a safe and secure seal every time you reinsert your dentures. Cushion Grip Denture Adhesive is SAFE for all plastic and porcelain plates.

Holds dentures firmly in place; less slipping
Single application lasts up to 4 days
Won’t wash off in water
Safe for all plastic and porcelain plates
Please read all label information on delivery

2. Perma Soft Denture Reliner Kit–Reline 2 Denture Plates

Perma Soft is really a specifically developed powder and liquid that when mixed together and put on the denture takes the sense of the gums, stays soft helping stop gum shrinkage.

Wearing dentures wears lowers the gums and with Perma Soft, you can significantly decelerate the gum-shrinking process. won’t protect your gums from loose, irritating dentures, but it’ll also help make your dentures fit like new again while giving your mouth and gums comfort. It’s specifically developed to remain soft yet firm to save your gums from the deterioration of hard plastic dentures. It will tighten, cushion, and relieve irritation without the necessity for drug store adhesives.

One application lasts up to 2 years!
Soft yet firm re-liner for loose, irritating dentures!
Safe and effective! Registered with the FDA!
Enough material to reline upper and lower denture, or 2 uppers OR 2 lowers! Works on partials, too!

3. DenTek Secure Denture Bonding Cream

Bioforce of America Secure Denture Bonding Cream functions like a real adhesive and produces a safe and secure, strong, bond between your dentures and the gums. The non-water-soluble properties of Secure aren’t impacted by any liquids or saliva. Only one application is needed each day to keep total retention and ensure complete confidence.

Secure Denture Bonding Cream has a patented non-water-soluble technology that eliminates any slipping or sliding. Fraxel treatments guarantee that Secure will not dissolve in water, so it will not wash out while eating or drinking. Fraxel treatments also make Secure the healthy denture adhesive. Because it doesn’t dissolve in water, you won’t swallow any adhesive particles and the adhesive won’t leak into your stomach. Nor does it affect the flavor of your food.

Product Features

Acts as a real adhesive and creates a secure, strong, bond between the dentures and the gums
Non-water-soluble properties of Secure are not affected by any liquids or saliva
Will not wash out while eating or drinking
Will not alter the flavor of your food

4. Secure Denture Bonding Cream by Dentek

Secure is the Denture Adhesive that is waterproof. This means that Secure will not wash away when you are eating or drinking. It offers an additional bonding effect that assures your denture is going to be fixed towards the gum for approximately 12 hours.

12 Hour Holding Power
Patented Waterproof Formula Doesn’t Wash Away
Good Value-1x per Day
Actually Bonds Denture to Gum
Particles Don’t Leak Into Your Stomach

5. Super Poligrip Zinc Free Denture Adhesive Cream

Ooze-control tip. Strong, all-day hold. Free from artificial flavors & colors. Super PoliGrip free formula is freed from artificial flavors & colors and holds dentures strong all day long lengthy. Super PoliGrip ooze-control tip makes applying adhesive easier.

Free of artificial flavors and colors
Helps hold dentures tight hour after hour
Forms a seal to help keep food from getting stuck between your dentures and gums
New improved hold and ooze control tip
Please read all label information on delivery

Denture Care Instructions And Denture Adhesive Advice You Need To Know

There are so many denture adhesives on the market it can leave you with a migraine headache. In my research for the best denture adhesive on the market, it has to be said that your head will be spinning by the time you are done. Some products are great still others are a complete waste of time and money. Denture adhesives are not all the same, some are great while others a waste of time and money.

Using your favorite denture adhesive adds a layer to the denture and press firmly into your mouth. Take them out a few times rinse under water then place them in your mouth again pressing firmly until you get the best fit. As you add cold water to the adhesive and remove them then replace them in your mouth you will notice the adhesive will set up and become more adhering. Brush your teeth afterward to remove any extra adhesive.

Cost Of Veneers – How Much Are Different Types of Veneers

The cost of veneers varies depending on many factors. In this article, we will talk about these veneers – traditional porcelain veneers, composite veneers, CEREC veneers, and Lumineers veneers, although there aren’t that many other brands worth mentioning other than what we’ve just listed.

Porcelain Veneers Cost

What is the porcelain veneers average cost? Well, the cost of veneers made of porcelain is around $750-$2000 per one veneer. Expect higher prices in places like Beverly Hills (2000 dollars per one veneer) and lower costs in cities like Las Vegas And Austin (850-1200 dollars per veneer is the average). Veneers that are made of porcelain are incredibly durable, stain-resistant, and esthetic. You should be able to find plenty of dental offices that offer porcelain veneers as they are trendy.

There is one aspect you might not like about them, though, and that is the traditional methods of bonding porcelain veneers require your teeth to be ground beforehand. While the thickness of tooth enamel that gets shaved is usually around 0.5 mm, some dentists file more than that. There were instances where the amount of tooth removed was almost equivalent to the amount required for a dental crown – all for the sake of aesthetics and improved ease of application.

This is a permanent procedure, and the amount of removed tooth structure will not grow back. (For more information, refer to our porcelain veneers pros and cons article)

Composite Veneers Cost

How much are veneers made of composite material? Well, the prices of composite veneers are usually much lower than the prices of porcelain veneers – around $400 – $1500. Some dentists, though, will quote more than that because it is in their opinion that the difficulty of adequately applying these veneers to the teeth and the difficulty of getting the necessary accreditation from AACD justify the higher price (even though direct composite veneers are inferior to porcelain ones in almost all aspects). It is not surprising why many dentists don’t offer these composites anymore.

However, composite veneers do have certain advantages over their porcelain alternatives – the whole treatment can be completed in just one appointment, for example, and they can be easily altered and reshaped, unlike porcelain veneers. They also require no grinding of the tooth’s surface, which means that specific dental veneers problems, like gum diseases due to overexposure of the teeth and slight tooth sensitivity after the operation, are much less likely.

CEREC Veneers Cost

CEREC veneers are created with the help of specialized computer technology, which allows the veneers to be virtually modeled and designed on a computer. The time required to make the calculations and manufacture a CEREC veneer is approximately 4 hours. Of course, the amount of time depends on the proficiency of the dentist and how well he is accustomed to the technology. Patients who have had their teeth covered with CEREC veneers are usually delighted with the results.

The cost of CEREC veneers is usually lower than the price of porcelain veneers – around $400 to $1100 since the process of making them is often both faster and easier.

Lumineers Veneers Cost

Lumineers have been heavily advertised as veneers that do not require your teeth to be “ground,” and that can be applied directly to your teeth without removing a significant amount of tooth structure. Moreover, they need only two visits and dentists say that they are easier to bond than porcelain veneers. (according to Lumineers reviews, these claims are mostly accurate, although certain Lumineers problems do exist) As for the prices, the cost of Lumineers is a quarter less than the cost of porcelain veneers, which means that they are usually between $560 and $1500.

Different Types of Veneers

Composite Veneers vs. Porcelain Veneers

If we put composite veneers vs. porcelain veneers, we will see that they have many differences. To understand these differences, it is crucial that we first understand the differences between direct and indirect bonding (because veneers are a result of using the tooth bonding technique). When you want to fix the aesthetics of your teeth with tooth bonding, there are two ways to go about it – with an indirect and a direct technique.

When a dentist makes composite veneers, he uses the direct bonding technique. The composite material is bonded to the surface of the teeth. When we use composite veneers, the teeth do not need to be “shaved” and prepared, and the composite material is shaped in front of your eyes and bonded directly by the dentist to your teeth.

When a dentist wants to make porcelain veneers, he will use the indirect bonding technique. He doesn’t make the veneers himself but sends an impression of the teeth to a dental lab which manufactures the veneers. The teeth need to be prepared and “shaved” a bit, unlike when we use composite veneers.

Here is why porcelain veneers can be better:

Composite veneers last for 2-5 years max and then need to be replaced. Porcelain veneers last up to 5 years.
Composite material gets stained. Porcelain does not wear over time, and it can remain shiny indefinitely. While the early versions of porcelain were very brittle, but nowadays, the material is very sturdy.

Here is why composite veneers can be better:

Composite veneers can be completed and given to you in the course of just one appointment. So, if you want to have porcelain veneers, you need to go through several appointments, because the dental lab needs time to finish the veneers for you.
Composite veneers usually much cheaper, although there are dentists who will charge more for them just because they think that making these veneers consumes too much time.
Composite veneers do not need your teeth to be prepared as much as they need to be prepared for porcelain veneers. Sometimes composite veneers can be applied without any teeth preparation at all.

Many cosmetic dentists will say that composite veneers have no real advantages over porcelain veneers. Surely, you can get composite veneers in just one appointment, and they require no preparation of your teeth, but dentists argue that these are pretty small advantages. Even the cost of veneers made of composite materials is not always cheaper.

Moreover, a lot of dentists will say that making composite veneers is too hard and consumes a lot of time. Indeed, to be successful with direct tooth bonding, a cosmetic dentist needs to possess a significant amount of patience, skill, and good artistic vision.

It seems, however, that there are dentists who will defend the no-prep veneers. The only reason why a lot of dentists do not like composite veneers is that they are not “cost-effective.” While the cost of making them is lower, which is good, on the one hand, but the time that is needed to ensure the creation of good-looking ones is too much, and the effort-to-reward ratio is just not satisfactory so relegating the task of manufacturing veneers to dental labs is preferred (time is money in the world of dentistry). The argument that tries to defend the composite veneers states that there is a more streamlined and straight-forward method, usable by both novice and experienced cosmetic dentists, that can deal with this deficiency.

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

So, How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

First, if you don’t know what Invisalign braces are, then let us tell you. They are a type of teeth aligners similar in a way to regular braces except that the Invisalign braces are almost transparent and cannot be easily seen by a naked eye from a distance. They were invented in the 1990s by the company Align Technology and have attained great popularity since then.

The teeth aligning procedure with the use of Invisalign braces differs from the way teeth are aligned using regular traditional braces. For example, one notable difference is that the Invisalign braces do not press as hard on teeth as conventional braces. Also, it is not uncommon for dentists to use x-ray 3D CT scans before actually commencing the Invisalign treatment. To apply Invisalign with precision, dentists use specialized computer software and communicate with other dental centers over the network. A pretty complicated technology, in other words.

In this article, we will answer the commonly asked “how much does Invisalign cost?” question and also provide you with some tips on how to make the treatment process less pricey (also some brief information on how to decide if they are for you or not, and something more, as well).

How Much Does Invisalign Cost Without Insurance?

Well, the price of Invisalign varies greatly and is influenced by many factors. For example, the severity of your teeth problem is one of those factors. Think about it – the more crooked your teeth are, the more aligners you need and the longer your treatment is, which makes the procedure more expensive. The level of qualification and the amount of expertise of the prosthodontist also influences the cost of Invisalign treatment, as the better a specialist is, the more he is likely to charge for his services. The location where you get the therapy also matters, for sure – the more expensive the city (Los Angeles Dentists, Newport Beach dentists), the higher the prices.

If you are interested not in vague answers to the “how much does Invisalign cost” question but more wrong numbers, then we apologize and will bring these numbers to the table right now. The cost of Invisalign braces ranges from $3500 to $8000 with the national average being around $5000, as stated by them themselves, but there are also so-called Express cases that cost from $1500 to $4000. The difference between the standard cases and the Express ones is that they differ in the number of aligners they have. Express kits have fewer aligners and are geared towards fixing milder teeth irregularities, and so they are also less expensive.

The vast discrepancy between the lowest and the highest price for dental service is not a rare phenomenon, as other dental services also fluctuate in their prices a lot, including the cost of dentures and many other dental operations. If you fly to certain Asian countries, like Singapore and Thailand, the cost of invisible braces will be much lower, but the topic of dental tourism is not something we will cover in this article.

How Much Does Invisalign Cost With Insurance?

That above was the cost of Invisalign without insurance, of course, but you can obtain some financial aid from the insurance provider, if you pass their terms. Usually, to get the money from them, the “Adult orthodontics” has to be listed in the list of coverage. The cost of Invisalign braces with insurance is approximately 500 dollars less, although sometimes insurance companies offer full financial aid. Dental insurance does not deal with the cosmetic dentistry costs so if the only reasons for fixing your teeth with Invisalign are all of cosmetic nature; it may get a bit difficult to convince the insurance company to help you. Tooth pain relief is not the field of expertise of cosmetic dentistry, for example, while teeth whitening is undoubtedly always for aesthetic purposes.

When asking the “how much is Invisalign” question, you probably didn’t expect such high prices, but don’t worry. Even if you think that the cost of these braces is too high for you, there are many other ways to reduce the costs, or at least make it easier to pay for them. For example, you can ask your dentists if they are willing to provide you with some monthly payment plans. These do exist, and if they agree to your proposal, they will prescribe you one of those plans, sometimes with no growing interest. Well, we would all rejoice if dental services were free, but payment plans are fine, too (even the so-called free dental implants are not free).

Another way would be to use the FSA – flexible spending account. This is a type of account where you can store a certain amount of money each month. To be more specific, if you choose to use FSA, a certain amount of money from your monthly payroll will be deducted regularly and put into FSA. The point of FSA is that the money you put there will not be subject to taxes. If you are interested, then ask your job provider if they can provide you with FSA (they are the ones who can do that). When you get the medical bills, you should seek the FSA company, and they will reimburse all the costs. The Invisalign braces do qualify as a type of medical treatment that FSA can pay for so there should be no problems.

Does Invisalign Cost More Than Braces?

Short answer – the cost of Invisalign braces is only slightly higher than the prices of regular braces. Does that affect the quality and efficiency of the work?

Well, the opinions on whether the traditional braces or the invisible ones, of which Invisalign is one of the types of, are better vary, but the statistics show that in 97% patients are more than happy with the results that they get from Invisalign aligners. The best part about the Invisalign invisible braces is that they are transparent, and the treatment of teeth with them tends to take much less time, too, thanks to the use of computer technologies. 12 or even six months are not very rare timelines for full Invisalign treatment processes. And again, the cost of Invisalign braces is only slightly higher than the prices of regular braces, too.

Well, the only reason why traditional braces are still used is that they provide more pressure to the teeth and can deal with teeth crookedness problems of more severe degrees. Yes, that means Invisalign, despite how glorified they are, are not appropriate for terrible teeth (speak to your orthodontist, so that he can inspect you for eligibility for the Invisalign treatment).

Some Last Words Before Purchasing Invisalign

Again, a consultation with a dental specialist is needed to estimate whether these braces can cure your problems or not, as they might not be suitable for some instances, such as in cases of severe tooth crowding or when the teeth have not fully erupted. Consult with 2 or 3 orthodontists to make sure that you get the whole picture, and the only aim for those who offer consultations for free. Also, if you are curious about the answers to the “does Invisalign work” question, we answer it below.

How Does Invisalign Work

If you don’t know, Invisalign has been widely marketed as better, lighter, faster and more comfortable than traditional braces, the description which inevitably brings some hope. To answer the “Does the Invisalign work” question, we need to understand how they are applied and used in detail.

Before beginning the procedure, the orthodontist has to make sure that the patient does not have any allergic reactions to the braces. Moreover, your situation will be examined in order to understand if these Invisalign braces are really for you. Yes, that means exactly what has been suggested previously – that for some people Invisalign braces are just not recommended, just like how free dental implants and implants, in general, are not recommended for some, as they would result in tooth implant problems. But here are the reasons for our Invisalign case.

These braces work a little bit differently than traditional ones. The conventional braces are relying on stretching the teeth in a specific direction. They also cause your roots to become shorter since they are metallic and are putting a lot of pressure on your teeth. It is also known that they affect your gum in a not very positive way (sometimes resulting in gum disease symptoms, although that happens only when either the dentist applying them is terrible or the patient is uncooperative).

Invisalign braces, on the other hand, are relying more on the application of constant pressure, not as strong as that done by traditional ones. The fact that the force is consistent, though, manages to provide for really great results.

Usually, the patient is given three aligners for six weeks after which he has to revisit his orthodontist to receive the next set. Each set is worn for approximately two weeks (listen to your dentist – he will tell you the exact timeline), and on average one aligner moves the teeth for 0,2 mm “per iteration.” The full treatment can take from 30-40 alignments, six months to a year and more – it all depends on the degree of irregularity of the teeth. A 3D scan using the latest computer technologies is necessary to determine the pattern and plan of treatment. Of course, due to the relative novelty of the technique, not all dentists have the qualification required to offer this service.

The last thing, because the pressure applied by Invisalign is not on the same level of what traditional braces are capable of, and together with several other factors, the Invisalign braces are not capable of treating the situations, for example, where teeth are severely crooked. Generally speaking, they are suitable for straightening the patient’s teeth, but they not good fixing a person’s bite. The teeth’s movement will result in some pain (quickly relieved with tooth pain relief methods), but the sores that are usually present after the brackets treatment will not be there for long – generally for ten days and that’s it. Lastly, you need all your adult teeth to be erupted to meet the Invisalign treatment standards – some people might not have them all even by the age of 17 (it highly depends on an individual whether he will still have the baby teeth by that age or not).

Consult with the reputable dental clinics and orthodontists to learn if they are suitable for you.

So, Does Invisalign Work?

All we can say is make sure you consult with the right orthodontist who has all the necessary qualifications to do the Invisalign treatment, and only if you have been diagnosed to meet all the required standards you are eligible for these braces. Unfortunately, there are some stories, mostly from areas and countries where dentists are not very famous for having a high business integrity, where people are being treated by dentists who have no clue about what they are doing, who have no qualification in dentistry, and who even utilize used dental equipment in deplorable conditions. Bad dentists will sometimes try to lure you with lowered cost of their service, the very reason why you should be wary about agreeing to the low cost of veneers offers (and low cost of dental services in general), and with all the benefits of their skills, but you should be wary. The questions like “does Invisalign work for overbite” can be answered as no, because the situation of an overbite is too severe, as it has been mentioned above, and the Invisalign braces are suitable only for straightening teeth, not fixing the bite.

Those patients, on the other hand, who received the right consultation from the right doctors, those who were approved to be suitable for the Invisalign, and finished the whole treatment process, are usually pleased about the results (97% satisfaction).

Yes, your teeth may start to go back towards the original position at the end of the treatment, but that’s when you need to keep wearing your retainers. Consistently. Moreover, most people agree that Invisalign braces work much faster than traditional braces. And don’t you forget about their transparency, too.

Some patients do complain about the initial discomfort (about two days after the installation of Invisalign), but soon they get used to them, and the process of taking them off (to eat) and putting them on becomes more and more effortless. We bet braces wouldn’t be very pleasant to them, either, so there is not much to complain about.

So, does Invisalign work? Short answer – yes, generally, they work pretty efficiently. 97% patient’s satisfaction ratio strengthens that fact. Just check your particular situation, as it has been said. They are also pretty expensive, even for the standards of cosmetic dentistry costs.

How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?

So how much do the services of cosmetic dentistry cost?

There is no definite answer to this, of course, but a specific overview and approximation can be made that can ease your curiosity. There is an article, already, that talks about the cost of dentures, but cosmetic dentistry includes not only dentures but also tooth whitening and many other services as well, so it is worth expanding on the topic further.

The thing about the cosmetic dentistry is that the cost varies as it depends on a lot of factors – for example, it depends on the value of the materials and products used (for example, the cost of buying the Invisalign aligners from the manufacturers), the location of the dentist, and many others.

Here is a list of cosmetic dentistry prices – it can give you an estimation of the average cost of cosmetic dentistry. Those are just estimations, but the numbers should be pretty accurate.

Dental veneers can cost from around 900$ to 2200$ (and from £300 to £2,000 in the UK). You can probably find cheaper veneers, but be ready to put at least 900$ on the table.

Teeth whitening can cost you from 400$ to more than 1000$ (£300 to £1,000 for the UK). Teeth whitening also sometimes requires to be done several times if you want to have “whiter” teeth.

Dental crowns – approximately from 450$ to 2500$ (£300 – £2,000 per tooth in the UK). Again, it depends on the material of the crown, but at least you get an estimate.

Invisalign invisible braces – $3500 to $8000 (£3000.00 – £6,000 for the UK) for a complete case. The Express kits cost from $1400 to $4000.

Gum Contouring – it is hard to say because you can pay as much as $3000 for this – depends on how many teeth you want to fix, for example. In the UK the prices go from £120, and in the US you probably can expect them to be from $50 to $350 per tooth.

Dental bridges £250 – £800 per unit in the UK and from $500 to $900 in the US.

Dental Implants. There is an article about how to get free dental implants – you can find a table there that tells you the cost of the dental implants. In the UK, dental implants are £1200 – £2,500 per tooth. For the US they are $1700 to $3700 per tooth. We bet the prices can go much higher here.

And so on.

Now we would like to direct your attention to some other things on the topic of cosmetic dentistry costs — some controversy.

Low-Cost Cosmetic Dentistry Services

As you can see, cosmetic dentistry services are not very cheap. The cost of veneers alone can make your wallet (or bank account) empty in an instant, not speaking about the high costs of dental implants. Cheaper services do exist, but with lower prices come lower quality and efficiency, as well. Well, this is probably where the law of economics comes into play – the higher the demand, the higher the prices, applicable to the dentistry field, as well.

Demand is not the only factor that contributes to the high costs of cosmetic dentistry. We should also take into consideration that dentists make huge investments of both their time and money when they decide to continue their studies to obtain the specialization in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Most students in the USA come out of undergraduate studies with huge debts, and you can imagine the financial situation of those general dentists who decide to pursue further education. Speculation and rumor are, some start overcharging for their services once they get the required knowledge in the field of cosmetic dentistry.

There are ways to get low-cost cosmetic dentistry services legitimately, of course. For example, you can try dental tourism (try Mexico, Singapore, or Hungary) or dental schools, like the University of Southern California. You can combine both of these options – you can go to another country, where the fees for the cosmetic dentistry are cheaper, and get treated in the local dentistry schools, which further reduces the cost of dental services, be it the cost of dentures, dental implants or whatnot.

However, if you do decide to do that, you need to pick places that have a good reputation for having the right level of quality for dental services. For example, Hungary is very renowned in that regard – the local dental schools, as some dentists in the USA, say, make one of the best dentists all over the world. But how much does cosmetic dentistry cost in those countries and dental schools? Unfortunately, that is not the topic of our article, but we will say is that it is expected for the average cost of cosmetic dentistry there to be lower.

The reason why you don’t want to hop onto the first cheap cosmetic dentistry offer without inspecting the reputation of the service provider is not only because the quality is likely to be low, but also because you will not be able to defend your customer rights if something goes wrong. It is possible to complain to the law if a dentist destroys your teeth or fails to provide tooth pain relief, but it is not possible to complain if a dentist fails to deliver an appropriate level of “cosmetic” beauty, as this quality is a bit too vague to estimate.

What to Do With Chipped Porcelain Veneers

Whether it is possible to repair chipped porcelain veneers depends on how severe the fracture or the chip is on these veneers. When your veneer has chipped, you definitely need to see your dentist.

How Large is the Chip?

If the chip is very small, then the repair is possible by bonding composite material to fill in the gap in your veneer. Whether the replacement will last or not, depends a lot on the skill of your dentist. The filling should not be noticeable if done by a good dentist.

If the chip is extremely large, your dentist will probably advise you to either get a new veneer or a dental crown altogether. Of course, it is still possible to bond composite material to fill in the gap, but it will not last for long given how large the area that needs to be covered is, as, after all, composite material is weaker than porcelain. The composite filling, in this case, may be used as a temporary solution – just to cover your teeth for long enough until you have decided to replace them with real veneers.

(If you have several veneers, however, your dentist may face the challenge of making your new veneer match the color of your old ones. That again emphasizes the importance of finding a good cosmetic dentist.)

Do also note that the cost of veneers will be the same as when you got them the first time.

Why do Chips Occur?

Porcelain is usually a very sturdy material. However, that doesn’t mean that your veneer won’t chip or fracture if it is hit with strong enough force.

Also, if you’re wearing veneers, you should avoid eating apples and similar types of food that require your teeth to exert a strong physical force (also, avoid opening bottles with your veneers and similar silly acts).

Patients who suffer from bruxism or those who are involved in contact sports need to wear special protective mouthguards if they don’t want to damage their veneers.

How much will the Repair Cost?

Colored tooth filling will cost $150 or so. You may also have to pay for temporary veneers if they are used. Also, your dental insurance can cover the cost of veneers repair. Yes, they don’t cover porcelain veneers and cosmetic dentistry costs, but they do cover repairs and replacements of defective dental works (a kind of a loophole).

Your dentist may agree to repair your veneer free of charge.

Will my Dentist Get Mad?

Now, if you accidentally damaged your veneers your dentist will not get mad. The occurrences of chipped porcelain veneers and dental veneers problems are not that rare, after all.

You may, however, find it difficult to repair your veneer if the chip of the veneer occurred during the days when your dentist is not available – for example, during a weekend. If you must repair your veneer immediately, know that there are always other dental offices that will accept you. Call all the dental offices in your area, and you will most likely find one that will agree to fix your veneers.

How Do Veneers Work?

So, how do veneers work and what are the exact steps involved in the procedure of creating and bonding them? You’ve probably seen the veneers before and after pictures in various advertisements – the results that you see in these pictures are surely very attractive, but you may want to know what the actual procedure looks like, too.

Before that, let’s see what a veneer is. The first thing that came to our mind was to use a dictionary, and here is the first definition of the word “veneer” : a thin surface layer, as of finely grained wood, glued to a base of inferior material – pretty closely describes what a dental veneer is, actually, except that a dental veneer is a thin layer of dental material bonded to the teeth, the aesthetics of which you want to improve.

Veneers can be used to make your stained yellow teeth appear more white – they are quite effective at that, too. They are also used to fix teeth that are a little bit out of their position, just like what braces are used for, except that veneers are not really straightening teeth but more like “covering” them to make them appear straight – for that reason, certain skeletal defects or heavier defects of your teeth position should still be addressed by orthodontic procedures. Shortly speaking, the most common types of teeth problems that veneers fix are – crooked teeth, chipped teeth, tetracycline stains or discoloration of the teeth, unwanted space between the teeth, and several others.

Again, veneers are thin layers made of either porcelain or composite (see our composite veneers vs porcelain veneers article), bonded to the teeth using either indirect tooth bonding technique, in the case of porcelain veneers, or direct tooth bonding technique, in the case of composite veneers. We would highly encourage patients to pick porcelain veneers, if they can afford them, for a very simple reason – they are just better than composite veneers. The process of making and bonding porcelain veneers onto the teeth roughly consists of the following steps:

You arrive at a dental office, and a cosmetic dentist (we don’t recommend getting veneers done by a family or a general dentist) examines the state of your teeth, listens to and notes your dental needs, tells you what you should expect from dental veneers and if they are really the best choice for you.
The tooth preparation stage is the next stage. During it, you will get numbed with an anesthetic, and your teeth will get shaved a little bit so that veneers can be attached to their surface. Approximately 0.5 mm is a good estimate of the thickness of enamel that will be removed, but it varies from case to case (and from one cosmetic dentist to another).
The next step is to take an impression mold of your teeth. As it has been said, to apply porcelain veneers, the indirect bonding technique, where the veneers are not made by dentists (unlike when they make composite veneers), but by dental labs, is used. The dentist only sends the impression mold to a dental lab.
The time needed for the dental lab to complete your veneers is approximately 1-2 weeks. There is a common practice of applying temporary veneers to cover your vulnerable exposed teeth during that period.
When the veneers are completed and arrive at your dentist’s office, you will have a chance to try them on, and your cosmetic dentist will trim and reshape them, if necessary. Then, the cosmetic dentist will prepare the veneers for the bonding stage and glue them to your teeth using special dental cement. Lastly, the bonding is activated by special curing light to make the grip permanent. If the veneers are badly done, the cosmetic dentist should remake them, and this extra service should be included in the original cost of veneers, of course.

Are There Problems with Lumineers?

Lumineers Teeth Reviews

If you were looking for Lumineers problems, as in inherent issues with this technology, then we must inform you that there are no real problems with them. The Lumineers are, after all, just another brand of porcelain veneers, which have already proven to be extremely efficient at fixing crooked teeth, spaces between the teeth, and stained teeth. The main difference is that Lumineers are made of unique compressed porcelain called Cerinate porcelain, and not the porcelain used in traditional veneers.

What other people think of Lumineers

Many Lumineers reviews show that the patients’ experiences with them are predominantly positive. The majority of people find that their Lumineers are incredibly comfortable and attractive. They love their new white smile that looks remarkably similar to the smiles of Hollywood celebrities.

Also, these compressed porcelain veneers are incredibly long-lasting, with a few cases showing that they can survive for up to 20 years.

But Are There no Lumineers Problems?

No, people do report problems with their Lumineers.

A lot of these problems are, of course, very similar to the traditional dental veneers problems, because Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers. For example, people report the chips occurring on their Lumineers. Of course, this happens only when you overexert the veneers, as while the veneers are durable, they will deteriorate if you use them to crack nuts or if you accidentally hit them with a hard object.

Another possible problem with Lumineers may be that they may fall off your teeth. This occurs only when there were some mistakes during the bonding stage, or there were incorrect calculations in the preliminary stage when you are diagnosed whether you are eligible for Lumineers or not.

Do note that Lumineers should be replaced free of charge if they have fallen off or been damaged due to an accident if the warranty is still in function, and you should not pay anything additional for the cost of veneers repair.

Some Contraindications against Lumineers

You should not get Lumineers if you have one of the following conditions.

If you have caries, it should be first removed before placing Lumineers. The reason why it should be done is that the areas of caries can and most probably will endanger the strength of the bonding.
If you have any periodontal diseases, they should also be dealt with beforehand. Bleeding gum, for example, will conflict with the bonding process, and your veneers may fall off because of this reason.
If you are suffering from bruxism, you may also be contraindicated against Lumineers and porcelain veneers in general, as uncontrolled grinding of the teeth may damage the veneers. Some patients, however, managed to wear the veneers while still having bruxism, but it is better to cure the problem instead to avoid any adverse consequences.
If you have incredibly misaligned teeth, you may want to wear braces instead of veneers. While veneers are used for fixing slightly crooked teeth and spaces between teeth, more severe skeletal problems can be set only with orthodontic procedures.

Choose Your Lumineers Dentist Well

In any case, it is essential to locate a dentist who is qualified and has been trained to place Lumineers. The official website has a database of all dentists who have the necessary accreditations to place these compressed porcelain veneers. You could, for example, locate a few cosmetic dentists in your area and then check whether their names are present on the official website or not.

What are Lumineers?

So, what are Lumineers? Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers that are manufactured in the Den-Mat laboratory located in California. They have also been heavily advertised on TV, and their main selling point was that they are extremely thin, durable and esthetic. Also, they require no shot or anesthetics and are done in only two appointments.

The Thickness of Lumineers

The main difference between veneers and Lumineers (by veneers we mean the traditional porcelain veneers) is that Lumineers are made of robust patented Cerinate porcelain which allows for a reduced thickness. The thickness of conventional veneers is approximately 0.5 mm, while the thickness of Lumineers is about 0.3 mm. Their ultra-thinness is comparable to the thinness of the contact lenses.

This also allows Lumineers to be placed with the no preparation technique, where almost no tooth structure is ground. Also, since virtually no modification on the surface of the tooth is required, Lumineers are most of the time done without any shots or anesthetics. This is perfect for patients who are afraid of the horrible tooth preparation required for porcelain veneers.

Other Advantages

Another advantage of Lumineers is that they can be bonded directly to the enamel of the tooth. Currently, this type of bonding is known to be the strongest in the field of dentistry and easily beats the bonding on the dentin in terms of strength and longevity. (Dentin bonding weakens overtime, while enamel bonding stays strong – that’s what the studies show.)

Due to that factor and due to the strength of the Cerinate porcelain, Lumineers are also extremely long-lasting. Some cases have proven that these veneers can last up to 20 years.

These veneers also have a copyright restriction, at in all dentists are required to obtain the Lumineers from the Den-Mat laboratory in California. This is also a good thing because it eliminates (or at least reduces) the possibility of dentists relegating the task of creating these veneers to cheaper laboratories.

The lack of preparation also means that the risks of postoperative sensitivity of teeth are very low because the sensitive dentin is not altered (there are several theories to why tooth sensitivity occurs after the procedures with porcelain restoration, in fact). Enamel bonding is, in general, less prone to cause tooth sensitivity than dentin bonding.

What are Lumineers’ Disadvantages?

Some people will say that Lumineers do not provide that level of aesthetics that they were expecting. According to many Lumineers reviews, there are few complaints that these veneers look a little bit too bulky and long, almost unnatural.

While the issue of aesthetics, as in how the veneers look, is heavily dependent on the skill of a dentist, the very nature of how the Lumineers are made makes it hard to avoid the problem.

(Some dentists blame the laboratories in Den-Mat and claim that the below the standards quality of their work is what causes the difficulties with the looks of these veneers.)

The cost of veneers made in Den-Mat is on almost the same level as the cost of traditional porcelain veneers, although in most cases the Lumineers are a bit cheaper.

What Other People Say about Lumineers

According to many Lumineers reviews, most people are satisfied with the quality of these veneers. People generally praise these veneers for their esthetics and longevity. Compared to traditional porcelain veneers, Lumineers usually are shinier and whiter, and most people love them. Some even have both conventional veneers and Lumineers, and they still prefer the looks of Lumineers.

However, they are not only whiter and shinier than traditional veneers, but they are also much bulkier looking than traditional porcelain alternatives. Rarely anyone raises complaints about this, though, unless it is a dentist who has his own bias towards how good teeth should look like. That doesn’t mean that there are no people who don’t like the bulkiness of these veneers, but more like the amount of those is negligible compared to the number of people who love the looks of these veneers.

Also, the few complaints that we found almost all stated that the veneers worked and looked splendidly for at several years of being in use (4-5 years). Of course, there are cases where patients were not satisfied even during the preparation of these veneers, but those cases are usually due to the incompetence of the dentists.

Do note that Lumineers come with five years warranty, so if anything happens to them in this period, your dentist should conduct repair free of charge. (However, while dentists should not charge for the cost of veneers while the warranty is still active, some will charge for their time, which is not the most honest practice, given how patients expect the 5-year warranty to be completely cost-free.)

What Problems People had with Lumineers?

Lumineers can crack and chip, just like healthy teeth and traditional veneers, if you are very careless with them. Most Lumineers problems are similar to conventional dental veneers problems. People strain the veneers by eating apples or by trying to crack nuts with them, drink wine and alcoholic beverages, smoke or by doing other nasty things to Lumineers, which leads to the deterioration of their looks and weakening of the strength of bonding.

There are also complaints where people were not satisfied with the looks of Lumineers, but it is usually not the fault of Lumineers, although it sometimes may be as we did state that some people don’t like the bulkiness of these veneers, more the responsibility of the dentist who placed them. That means if you be careful when you’re choosing your dentist – make sure that he is a cosmetic dentist who has undergone specialized training and is qualified to offer Lumineers to his patients.

Also, Lumineers cannot be placed when oral health is not in good condition, so if your dentist neglects that, some problems may arise, too.

What is the Cost of Dentures?

The cost of dentures varies significantly depending on many factors, and you may see tangible deviations in your local dental office.

First, What is a Denture?

A denture is a removable dental prosthesis, which is designed for replacing natural teeth. It is usually made of acrylic and plastics, although there are models that utilize metals (metal-cast dentures) and other materials.

The earlier versions of these prostheses were made of ivory, bronze, teeth of deceased animals and sometimes the teeth of human beings. They are still used today despite the existence of such alternatives as dental bridges and dental implants.

But Why Dentures?

One aspect that makes these prostheses so attractive is their low cost. Indeed, the relatively low cost of dentures is the only reason why they are sometimes referred to other types of false teeth (implants and bridges). In other words, dentures are an excellent alternative for people who are financially limited and can’t afford the more expensive treatments.

Do consult with your dentist (preferably, a cosmetic dentist with good artistic vision, if you do care about the looks of your fake teeth) to learn if dentures are an appropriate solution for your dental problems or not.

How Much Do Dentures Cost?

Right, so how much do dentures cost? As we’ve said, the cost of these prostheses varies as it depends on many factors. Some dentures cost only several hundred dollars, and some dentures cost up to ten thousand dollars and above, so you can’t say the exact numbers here.

Let’s say that we want to categorize the cost of dentures according to their quality:

1)Expect to pay 200-400 dollars for the lowest-quality dentures (these offers are actually pretty rare, but now you know that there are dentures that cheap). This applies for both removable and full dentures. A denture like that (most probably dental flippers) usually does not last very long or look very good, but it can act as a temporary replacement for your teeth.
2)The average cost of right quality dentures is 800 – 1500 dollars for removable dentures, and 1000-2000 dollars for full dentures.
3)The highest-end dentures, both full and partial, will cost 2000 dollars or above. These provide the best retention, durability, and aesthetic qualities. Do note that some dentists will even charge a five-figure sum for their dentures!

We recommend that you take your time to find an excellent cosmetic dentist, or a prosthodontist, who does not overcharge for his services as getting dentures from a lousy dentist will ensure unnecessary problems later on. By the way, do note that we list the cost of dentures without insurance. Also, such procedures like anesthesia and extraction of teeth are not included in the prices, so keep that in mind, too.

The Determining Factors of the Dentures’ Costs

One factor that influences the cost of dentures is the type and the design of the dentures.

You can categorize dentures not only by whether they are complete or partial but also by the materials that they are made of – acrylic based dentures, dental flippers, flexible framework dentures, cast metal dentures, etc..

Depending on which type the denture is offered, the prices will be different. The numbers that you see below were taken not from any specific dental office in the US (well, American dentists never disclose their prices openly, anyway), but from a comparison list between the cost in Mexican dental office and in the US dental offices.

Immediate Acrylic Full Denture – $820
Immediate Acrylic Partial Denture – $820
A Dental Flipper – $635
Metal Frame Partial Denture – $1580
A Partial Denture, Flexible Framework – $1790
A High-Quality Full Denture per one arch – $1995

Again, this short price list does not represent the prices in any particular state, but more like the average cost of dentures across the country.

Another factor is the location of your dentist, as in, which city you are getting treated at – the difference between the dentistry prices in one region of the USA and the prices in another area can be very tangible. For example, expect much higher prices in Beverly Hills and Manhattan than in Houston or Austin. In general, the NE region of the US is generally more expensive than any other region.

Another significant factor is how good the dentist is and how highly he values his time and skills. How a cosmetic dentist would charge higher cosmetic dentistry prices, a prosthodontist will also demand more money from patients who want his dentures. (This is also one of the reasons why some dentures are offered for ridiculously high prices.)

That, however, doesn’t mean that you should avoid expensive specialists – on the contrary, it is better to pay a bit more for a better quality denture than a bit less for a poor quality device that will need to be replaced very soon, anyway.