Lumineers in Houston, TX
Perfect the shape of your teeth and whiten your smile with Lumineers®, which is a type of ultra-thin porcelain veneer. In the hands of an experienced cosmetic dentist, your Lumineers results may last 20 years or even longer.
In Houston, Dr. Ronald Konig has provided numerous patients with Lumineers as well as many other cosmetic dentistry treatments to achieve life-changing smile aesthetics. To schedule a consultation, please call 713-668-2289 .
Rejuvenate Your Smile with Lumineers
Lumineers address a wide range of cosmetic dental problems:
- Stains and discoloration
- Chipped teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Mildly crooked teeth
A glamorous, Hollywood-style smile is easily achieved with Lumineers. With this dentistry treatment, you can have flawless teeth, allowing you to feel confident and self-assured every time you smile.
Who is an ideal candidate for Lumineers?
Like porcelain veneers, Lumineers can provide a cosmetic solution to many problems with the teeth. It’s important to remember that, like porcelain veneers, Lumineers are only cosmetic solutions. They don’t solve underlying problems such as decay or gum disease; those issues must be addressed before Lumineers can be applied.
Lumineers can…
- Improve the appearance of crooked, misaligned teeth
- Cover cracked or chipped teeth
- Cover gaps between teeth
- Whiten stained teeth
- Improve misshapen teeth
- Make uneven teeth even
If you have these types of cosmetic problems with your smile, Lumineers could be a great answer.
Lumineers vs. Crowns
Although the results achievable overlap, Lumineers are different from dental crowns, which restore a damaged and vulnerable tooth. In many cases, Lumineers can be placed over a tooth with a dental crown or another type of restoration, to rejuvenate the appearance of old dental work.
Lumineers stand apart because of their ultra-thin yet durable design. Lumineers® are about the same thickness as a contact lens. As such, the enamel of your teeth has to be altered very little, and often not at all, in order to place the veneers on your teeth. Because the enamel does not have to be modified, Lumineers® placement does not involve shots or pain.
Lumineers are also a reversible treatment, allowing you to have Dr. Konig remove them if you change your mind years down the road. But for all their apparent delicateness, Lumineers are strong, and resist breaking and staining.
How do Lumineers compare with porcelain veneers?
The application of porcelain veneers requires removal of some of the existing enamel — usually about 5 mm — on the front of the teeth receiving the veneers. This makes room for the veneer. Because the enamel is removed, the patient will need a veneer on the tooth for the rest of his or her life.
Lumineers cover the same flaws and offer the same cosmetic improvements as porcelain veneers, but the procedure is much less invasive. The original tooth is left unchanged, and the enamel is not damaged. This is possible because Lumineers are thinner than traditional veneers (about as thick as a contact lens), but they still are incredibly strong and durable. In some cases, patients may feel that Lumineers may look or feel slightly bulkier when compared with porcelain veneers. That’s why Dr. Konig offers both options for his patients.
During your consultation with Dr. Konig, the two of you can discuss both options and the pros and cons prior to you deciding how you’d like to proceed.
Advantages of Lumineers
For good candidates, these veneers have several advantages, including:
- Translucence makes Lumineers appear as real tooth enamel
- Easy, fast application appointment
- Long-lasting results
- Minimal tooth prep
- Results reached in as few as two dental appointments
Because Dr. Konig is experienced in the placement of Lumineers as well as other cosmetic dentistry treatments, he can determine whether Lumineers or another cosmetic approach is right for your goals and your dental health.
A Simple, Two-Step Process
The Lumineers process can take as few as two appointments at Dr. Konig's Houston practice. In the first visit, Dr. Konig will create a mold of your teeth and help you choose the preferred shade of white. The mold and other specifications are sent to the Lumineers lab, where your custom veneers are created. Once we receive your finished veneers (usually about two weeks or so after your first appointment), you will come back to have them placed on your teeth, a painless process that takes about an hour.
Because Lumineers require little to no modification of the existing tooth structure, most of our patients do not need to wear temporaries while they wait for their Lumineers to be crafted.
To find out if you are a good candidate for Lumineers in Houston, Texas, please call the dental practice of Ronald Konig, DDS, FAGD, LVIF, FIAPA, at 713-668-2289 . Dr. Konig and our staff are proud to provide state-of-the-art care for people from across the state, including Sugar Land, The Woodlands and Katy.
Lumineers FAQS
What are the alternative cosmetic dentistry procedures for 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:
What is the difference between Lumineers and other Teeth Whitening options?
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.
Who is not a candidate for a Lumineers procedure?
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.
What are the risks of a Lumineer procedure?
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.
Will Lumineers permanently damage my teeth?
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.
What should I expect at my Lumineer consultation?
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.
What is the recovery process after a Lumineers procedure?
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.
How do I care for my Lumineers?
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.
Will my Lumineers look natural?
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.
Call Dr. Konig For A Lumineers Consult In Houston, TX!
If you're interested in learning more about Lumineers please contact us for a consultation at 713-668-2289 or fill out our contact us form. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action.
