Lumineers

Lumineers are one of several treatments we offer to improve the appearance of the smile. Dr. Konig brings a wealth of education and clinical experience to each consultation to assist each patient with their treatment choice. Depending on the concerns that require attention, patients may consider cosmetic procedures such as:

• Traditional porcelain veneers
• Dental bonding
• Dental crowns
• Teeth whitening
• Laser gum lift

Teeth whitening treatments do one of two things: they either mask discoloration or remove the cause of staining. To remove stains, our staff creates a custom-fit tray for each patient. This is done by taking impressions. The treatment occurs at home by applying a professional-grade whitening gel to the customized trays and wearing them for a specified time. The whitening gel is a peroxide solution that breaks apart the particles in enamel that are causing teeth to look dull and discolored.

Depending on the nature of stains, a dentist may consider disguising the imperfection with dental bonding or porcelain veneers, including Lumineers. This option may be appropriate for stains that are within the tooth rather than within enamel. These are called intrinsic stains and may result from an injury, fluorosis, or the use of tetracycline. Lumineers differs from other forms of teeth whitening in that the treatment process does not require the disruption of natural tooth material.

Lumineers may not be right for everyone. Some of the conditions that may need to be addressed before Lumineers can be applied include:

• Tooth decay. While a veneer covers the tooth, it is essential to repair existing damage before performing the treatment. Decay under a veneer will worsen if not properly treated.
• Bite misalignment. While veneers can disguise problems such as mildly turned or misaligned teeth, this treatment cannot correct misalignment of the jaw. Lumineers may not be appropriate for people with a severe overbite or underbite until jaw alignment has been corrected.  
• Bruxism. People who clench or grind their jaw can suffer damage to natural teeth. Likewise, this habit, due to the force applied, can damage veneers. Because Lumineers are so thin, they are more susceptible to damage from bruxism. Patients with a history of clenching or grinding may benefit from a nightguard or may be better candidates for traditional porcelain veneers.

One of the benefits of Lumineer treatment is that there are very few risks of significant complications. Because teeth are not reduced, the treatment is reversible at any time. The risks that are associated with no-prep veneers are mild and include:

• Slight tooth sensitivity may occur as a result of gentle tooth-polishing or, if necessary, very minor reduction.
• Color inconsistency. Lumineers should be applied by a dentist with an abundance of experience performing this process. Color inconsistencies could result from the hue of the underlying tooth, the color of the bonding substance, and the shade of the veneer.
• Gum inflammation. The gums may need time to adjust to the foreign material in the mouth. While adjusting, gum tissue may become slightly inflamed.

A nice difference between Lumineers and porcelain veneers is that Dr. Konig doesn’t need to remove any existing tooth enamel from the fronts of your teeth receiving their Lumineers. This contrasts with the placement of veneers, which involves shaving down some of the enamel on the teeth. This is a permanent change in the teeth, and they will forevermore need to be covered with a veneer or a crown. This isn’t the case with Lumineers.

When you visit our Houston dental office, you can expect to meet with Dr. Konig to discuss what you wish to achieve. The doctor may perform a full dental examination and x-rays to help determine the appropriate course of care. During your visit, you are encouraged to ask as many questions as you have about how to bring out the best of your smile. In addition to discussing Lumineers, Dr. Konig may consider other treatments in addition to or as an alternative to these no-prep veneers. The objective of this visit is to ensure you have all of the information you need to make an informed and confident decision about your smile.

Regardless of how minor a procedure is, the change it creates in the mouth may be noticeable. The gums and tongue are sensitive to the changes that occur after veneer treatment. We wouldn’t call this a recovery period as much as an adjustment period. For a week or two, the bite may feel slightly “off.” This is not a complication; it is the tongue and gums getting used to the new feel of teeth.

You don’t need to provide any special care for your teeth with Lumineers. Normal bruising twice daily for two minutes and flossing once every day are all you need to do. The way to get the most years out of your Lumineers is to care for the natural teeth behind them. Those natural teeth can still develop decay and their gums can deteriorate. But with good home oral hygiene and keeping your twice-yearly professional cleanings and exams with Dr. Konig and our team, you should enjoy your Lumineers for about 20 years.

You’ll want to avoid doing certain things, such as chewing ice or gnawing on bones, as you can break or loosen a Lumineer.

Some people feel that Lumineers don’t look completely natural when on their teeth. This is a personal thing. Some people feel the color of Lumineers looks too opaque and the shape of the individual Lumineers doesn’t match the natural shape of natural teeth.

Other people feel there is little difference between porcelain veneers and Lumineers. That debate is exactly the reason Dr. Konig offers our patients both porcelain veneers and Lumineers.

As a final word, porcelain veneers do look completely natural when on your teeth. That’s because high-grade dental porcelain closely mimics the slight translucence of natural tooth enamel, so veneers reflect and absorb light in a very similar way to tooth enamel.

During your consultation, Dr. Konig will show you examples of our patients with both porcelain veneers and Lumineers, and you can see for yourself what you think.