In the world of cosmetic dentistry, many treatments can help you achieve a perfect smile. However, the treatment that you choose to have depends on your needs. You might’ve heard about veneers and even lumineers but aren’t really sure if they’re the same or different things. Well, they are quite different. Each has its pros and cons. In this guide, we’ll do veneers vs lumineers so that you can make the right decision when it comes to your smile.
If you’re struggling with broken or discoloured teeth, you might feel hesitant to smile or laugh in front of others. In this case, you can consider getting veneers, which are essentially thin porcelain covers that will hide the misshapen, uneven, chipped, yellow and discoloured teeth.
One thing about veneers that you should know about is that they will require your teeth to be prepped. Lumineers, on the other hand, don’t require any teeth prep for their placement. Doesn’t that make Lumineers better than veneers? Not really. And there are many reasons why that is not true. So, let’s get into it.
What Are Lumineers?
It is just another brand of no-prep veneers. These are only offered by a few dentists. Its biggest advantage is that it is zero-prep or no-prep. This means that the dentist doesn’t have to prepare your teeth before putting these on. Moreover, there’s no need to reduce your tooth enamel for them. They’re only 0.3mm thick and are made from different types of porcelain. The strength of the lumineers is quite different from veneers, and that is just one thing that creates a difference between the two.
Lumineers are thinner, cheaper, and faster to apply. You can also get them removed without getting your teeth damaged in any way. This reversibility of lumineers is made possible because of their ultra-thin nature. Veneers being much thicker require the dentist to remove some of the natural tooth material to make space for the veneers. This isn’t the case with lumineers.
Other than that, with lumineers, you also don’t have to worry about not eating certain foods. You won’t have to face dietary restrictions. However, this does not mean that you should go lax about your oral hygiene because it is still very important. Brush and floss and eat less sweet, sticky foods.
What is the Procedure for Getting Lumineers?
First and foremost, any dental clinic would begin by having a consultation session with the patient to check their suitability for the treatment. An X-ray might be needed in this case. Moreover, the dentist will examine your mouth and even give you a dental cleaning.
On the day of the procedure, you’ll come to the clinic, and the dentist will put a dental putty into your mouth, fixed on mouth trays. You will bring your teeth down on the mould so that it can take the shape of your teeth. This, along with other information, is sent to the laboratory. Once they’re ready, your dentist will call you back for another appointment. Then the lumineers will get placed on your teeth. The whole procedure doesn’t take more than an hour to complete.
As far as pain is concerned, at most, you might experience discomfort. You shouldn’t have to worry about feeling any pain during their placement because they’re extremely thin.
Which Is Better: Veneers or Lumineers?
There are quite many differences when it comes to veneers vs lumineers. Knowing them can help you make the right decision.
Thickness
Traditional veneers are 1.5 mm thick, which may not sound much, but if you put these on the teeth without shaving them a little, you’ll feel their protruding presence all the time. Moreover, it can make your teeth look uneven that way. This is why the dentist reduces and trims about 0.5-1.5 mm of the natural tooth of the patient. It helps make space for the traditional veneers to go onto the teeth.
Lumineers are only 0.3 mm thick (equal to that of contact lenses). In the first appointment, the dentist takes the mould, and in the second simply places Lumineers on the teeth of the patient. This is unlike what happens with traditional veneers, where the first trimming takes place.
Reversibility
The procedure of getting veneers is irreversible since shaving the enamel is required. Once the enamel is shaved, your tooth is permanently changed. Therefore, there’s no changing that. Lumineers, however, do not require enamel reduction.
Durability
Here, the “veneers vs lumineers” debate takes a curious turn. It was claimed that lumineers can last for as long as 20 years. However, it isn’t accurate. Lumineers are made from less durable cerinate porcelain and they’re more prone to damage. They can still last you for 2-5 years, but you have to be very careful. Traditional veneers, on the other hand, made from pure porcelain can last anywhere between 5-15 years.
Teeth-Staining
Since both are made from porcelain, which is not easily stained, this shouldn’t be a problem. Being less porous than the natural teeth, you don’t have to worry about them staining as much as your natural teeth. Still, don’t go overboard with teeth-staining foods to enjoy long-lasting results.
Translucence
Being very thin means that lumineers are translucent. If the damage underneath is too severe, it will show through the lumineers, which does not make them the right choice when the tooth is extremely discoloured. This will completely ruin the results of the treatment simply because it was the wrong choice, to begin with.
If you’re dealing with severe dental cosmetic concerns, traditional veneers are the better option. This is because they can better hide your imperfections behind them. You can confidently enjoy a pearly-white smile with them. For a relatively moderate to severe case of broken, misshapen, uneven, brown, decaying, and yellow teeth, traditional veneers are the better choice.
Cost
Teeth veneers vs lumineers cost will depend on the area where you’re living. They’re likely not to be available on the NHS if you’re living in the UK. However, if we compare the costs of veneers vs lumineers, the former is slightly more expensive. This is due to the nature of the procedure. When the dentist is fixing the veneer on the tooth, more work is needed. Veneers are also made from a variety of materials, so that can also impact their price.
Veneers vs Lumineers: Pros and Cons
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of the two treatment options.
| Veneers | Lumineers | |
| Thickness | Shell of 1.5mm thickness | Shell of 0.3mm thickness |
| Durability | Lasts for 5-15 years | Lasts for 2-5 years |
| Procedure | Enamel is shaved and the impression of the teeth is taken for the preparation of the veneers | No teeth-prepping is required; only an impression of the teeth is sent to the dental lab |
| Candidate | Tooth is moderately or severely broken, chipped, discoloured, and misaligned | Better at concealing mild dental cosmetic issues |
| Cost | More expensive | Less expensive |
| Permanence | Irreversible (veneers can be replaced) | Reversible (lumineers can be replaced) |
| Appearance | Looks like natural teeth and blends in quite well with them | May seem bulky because no enamel is shaved, and does not appear as natural because it’s too opaque |
Veneers vs Lumineers: Which Option Is Better For You?
For crooked, chipped, cracked, and uneven teeth, porcelain veneers or zirconium crowns might be more suitable. That’s because lumineers are thinner and more translucent, so they may not be able to meet your cosmetic needs. Lumineers are not a bad option if you’re looking to hide slight flaws in your smile. Veneers vs lumineers is just not a simple debate. It can depend on the needs of the patient and the severity of their problem. In any case, your dentist should discuss this with you in detail.
Make sure that you’re completely aware of all the important features of these two. Apart from lumineers, there are other zero prep veneer brands that are available in the market. However, if you are looking for a more durable and long-lasting dental treatment, you should consider getting porcelain veneers.
To Wrap It Up
Commonly, people think poorly of their smiles if their teeth are broken, chipped, yellow, brown, decaying, uneven, or crooked. They look for a way to improve their smile so that they can feel more confident about the way they look. However, the world of cosmetic dentistry is not as easy to navigate. There are many dental procedures, tools, and techniques available, and the industry is constantly evolving for the better. The veneers vs lumineers argument can be decided by you depending on what you’re looking for.
Just remember that if the damage is too severe, and/or the teeth are too yellow or brown, the translucent nature of lumineers makes them unsuitable. Your teeth will show through them, rendering the procedure fruitless. Therefore, you want to make sure that you’re deciding on the right course of treatment. For that, make sure to consult your dentist. If you have any further questions about this, you can also reach out to the dentists at Longevita.