Many people have seen TV commercials for the Lumineers® brand of porcelain veneers. Wide advertising for this ultra-thin, super-strong, and no-prep brand makes them popular. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Debra Gray King of Atlanta is quite familiar with Lumineers, but she prefers—and gets better results with—other brands. (For information on the ultra-thin veneers we prefer, please see our page on Pearls ultra-thin veneers.)
How Lumineers Compare to Other Brands
The Look
Lumineers are ultra-thin and super-strong, but so are other brands of porcelain veneers. Thinness does enable the placement of the veneers without tooth preparation in some cases. While a no-prep approach isn’t appropriate for all cases, it can produce some beautiful results with proper case selection. But we haven’t seen those beautiful results with the Lumineers brand. Many cosmetic dentists criticize DenMat, the laboratory that makes Lumineers, for failure to personalize their veneers for each patient and for lack of aesthetics. The veneers often look pasty, bulky, or too long. Our Dr. Cooper describes Lumineers as a “cookie-cutter approach without customization.” He, Dr. King, and Dr. Reeve get beautiful results with their Pearls ultra-thin veneers.
The Feel
Porcelain veneers that look bulky or long probably feel that way in your mouth; they are not comfortable. We have heard of some cases where patients have felt that their lip “catches” on the Lumineers, because of their bulk. Veneers that don’t fit well or that don’t complement your facial features can make you feel self-conscious and uneasy about smiling. That isn’t what we want. Our cosmetic dentists use other brands that feel comfortable and natural.
Beautiful Results without Lumineers
You can’t get a beautiful smile without using a talented cosmetic dentist working with a master dental ceramist–you need that combination. At the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, we prefer other brands over Lumineers because they allow us to work with our own master ceramist to design a personalized smile that matches your age, facial features, and preferences. The DenMat laboratory is too large and too impersonal to produce those kinds of results.
Although Lumineers can be placed in just two visits, our cosmetic dentists know the importance of taking time to ensure your smile makeover is exactly as you want it. We provide provisional, or temporary, veneers that you’ll wear for three to four weeks to experience how your new smile will look and feel. If it’s not perfect, we will have adjustments made, and if necessary, it will be completely remade. Our training and experience along with your input guarantee that you will love your porcelain veneers.
Take a close look at the before-and-after photos below of one of our patients. Her teeth were discolored, uneven, and worn. They were beautifully transformed with porcelain veneers. The translucency, color, and shape of the veneers look completely natural.
Get Started with a Complimentary Consultation
If you’ve been interested a smile makeover with Lumineers, consider letting us help you with that and using a different brand. Start by requesting a complimentary consultation at the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. We welcome your questions and will explain your options. Call us to schedule or request an appointment online.
