Veneers and Lumineers, which are thin porcelain shells that can improve discolored, chipped or worn teeth, are resilient options in restorative cosmetic dentistry.

Veneers

A porcelain veneer is like a partial crown that will not stain and is “comfortable” for teeth. A veneer can cover the visible part of a “bad” tooth and create excellent cosmetic results while keeping a great deal of the natural tooth (unlike a crown).

Procedure

To prepare for the veneer, less than a millimeter of the natural tooth is removed. Next, temporary plastic veneers are created using impressions of your teeth, and the impressions are sent to a lab to create the final veneers. At another appointment, your permanent veneers are bonded to your teeth.

LUMINEERS®

LUMINEERS®, which are a brand of porcelain veneers, are extremely thin and are placed without having to remove any existing tooth structure. Because of this, there is no pain in the procedure. The special porcelain is called Cerinate, and is incredibly hard and durable. LUMINEERS® can be bonded to other porcelain or metal surfaces, which means that removal of older restorations is not necessary.

Procedure

Since there is no removal of tooth structure, temporary plastic veneers and local anesthetic are not necessary, and the process takes only half the time of a traditional veneer.