Question:
I’ve seen these ads for Lumineers on TV. What is the cost of Lumineers?
Answer:
Lumineers generally cost about the same or a little less than other brands of porcelain veneers.
Lumineers is a brand name of the DenMat Company. Essentially, they are tough porcelain that can be made very thin. Their main marketing appeal is that, since they are so thin, the teeth don’t have to be “ground down” any, and they can be placed directly over unprepared teeth without being too bulky.
Since the procedure for doing Lumineers is generally less work than the procedure for doing traditional porcelain veneers, their cost may be about 3/4 of the cost of porcelain veneers, though that cost will vary from dentist to dentist. The cost can be about the same if the dentist is particularly fussy about them looking beautiful. Expect to pay anywhere from $800 per tooth to $2000 per tooth, depending on the expertise of the dentist and the area of the country.
However, a couple of warnings are in order. If the teeth are not prepared any before placing the porcelain veneers, the cosmetic dentist has much less latitude in creating a beautiful smile design. Great cosmetic dentists, being very passionate about the beauty of the work they create, will resist this, and may refuse to place Lumineers in a situation where they feel that they will not end up looking good. Click here to read more about Lumineers and the pros and cons. If you have a question, Dr. Hall may be able to help you and may be able to send you a personal reply. Click here to ask Dr. Hall a question.
Lumineers Problems
Additionally, there can be a functional problem with Lumineers. If there is no tooth preparation beforehand, which is the way they are commonly promoted, there is going to be a small bump where the veneer meets the tooth, rather than the smooth, undetectable junction between a traditional porcelain veneer and the tooth. If not done carefully, this can lead to problems with staining, gum irritation leading to gum disease, or even tooth decay down the road. An expert cosmetic dentist is the best person to help you assess these possible problems. Beware of a dentist who is too eager to place Lumineers and is unwilling to mention the possible drawbacks in your situation and does not give you an option of conventional veneers.
The amount of grinding that takes place when preparing a tooth for conventional porcelain veneers is minimal, just so you know. It’s in the range of about 0.5 millimeters, or one- to two-one-hundredths of an inch, about the thickness of a fingernail.
—Dr. David Hall
Other related Information:
- A patient in Texas who had Lumineers and crowns placed has a story that illustrates well what can go wrong.
- Click here for information about DURAthin, which are very similar to Lumineers. It’s another ultra-thin brand that can be placed without preparing the teeth, and it is preferred by expert cosmetic dentists because the lab work tends to be superior.
- Another shortcut new smile technique is GlamSmile. Read Dr. Hall’s straightforward opinions about these procedures.
Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist.
Click here to return to the frequent questions about cosmetic dentistry page.