Lumineers® Placement
Minor cosmetic blemishes can have a significant impact on the overall appearance of the smile. Imperfections such as discoloration, dental stains, gaps, chips, cracks, and fractures make the smile look unattractive and unhealthy.
Lumineers® are thin, tooth-shaped shells that cover the facial surface of the teeth. Lumineers conceal flaws to enhance the smile, making it appear bright, straight, and even. Dr. Jose Valenzuela is proud to offer Lumineers at Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Center, which serves Los Algodones, Mexico, Mexicali, and surrounding areas. Here, we provide an overview of Lumineers placement and explain what sets this treatment apart from traditional veneers.
How Do Lumineers Differ from Traditional Veneers?
Lumineers are ultra-thin porcelain tooth coverings. Like traditional veneers, Lumineers are a cosmetic solution for blemishes that detract from the beauty of the smile. Lumineers bond to the facial surface of the teeth to hide imperfections and present a more uniform, attractive smile. Lumineers can enhance the size, shape, and color of the teeth.
What sets Lumineers apart from traditional veneers is their width. Although traditional veneers are thin, they are not as slim as Lumineers. During veneers placement, the dentist must remove a thin layer of enamel. Removal of the tooth enamel permanently alters the teeth and makes veneer treatment irreversible.
Because Lumineers are so thin, they are often referred to as minimal-prep or no-prep veneers. Lumineers do not permanently alter the teeth or leave them vulnerable to damage, infection, or sensitivity. The Lumineers placement process is fast and straightforward. If a patient should ever choose to get rid of Lumineers, the process is reversible.
Lumineers Placement Procedure
At our Los Algodones dental practice, Lumineers are placed over the span of two dental appointments. At the first appointment, Dr. Valenzuela cleans and examines the teeth to determine if they are healthy. Next, he takes impressions and digital scans. The impressions and scans are sent to a certified Lumineers laboratory, along with design specifications. The patient returns home while the permanent Lumineers are fabricated. There is no need to place temporaries because the structure of the teeth is not permanently altered in preparation for Lumineers placement.
When a patient’s Lumineers are complete, they return for the placement procedure. Before placing Lumineers, Dr. Valenzuela tests their fit. When he is satisfied with the fit, he lightly etches the surface of the teeth. This does not weaken the teeth or alter their structure, rather, it creates a rough surface that promotes the bonding process. Dr. Valenzuela then applies a bonding agent that acts like cement to hold the Lumineers in place.
Benefits of Lumineers
Lumineers allow patients to conceal a variety of imperfections and enjoy the unflawed smile they desire. Lumineers offer several other benefits that make them a popular cosmetic dentistry treatment option, such as:
- Fast treatment
- Minimally invasive placement procedure
- Preservation of natural tooth enamel
- Reversible treatment
- Long-lasting treatment results
Contact Us
If your smile has been compromised by dental stains, gapped teeth, or minor structural damage, you may be an ideal candidate for Lumineers. To learn more about this cosmetic treatment and the simple placement procedure, send us a message online or call (928) 792-2156 and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.
