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.