What Are Lumineers?
To understand what Lumineers are, you need to k ow about dental veneers. Veneers are a type of cosmetic dental treatment that can make your teeth appear whiter and straighter. They are typically made of thin porcelain material and are used to conceal discolored, stained, or damaged teeth.
Lumineers are a type of veneer that is ultra-thin, durable, and easier to apply than traditional veneers. Traditional veneers are typically 0.5mm thick, whereas Lumineers are 0.2mm thick. That is approximately the thickness of a dollar bill!
What To Expect From The Lumineers Procedure?
Each Lumineers patient is unique and may have a different overall experience, but certain steps are followed by your dentist in every case. The following is everything you need to know about the Lumineers process, which includes an initial consultation and Lumineer placement.
The Preliminary Consultation
The first step for anyone interested in Lumineers is to make an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. During the initial visit, they can perform an oral examination to determine whether you are a good candidate for treatment. If Lumineers are the right treatment for the patient and they agree to it, the cosmetic dentist will take a dental impression of both the upper and lower teeth, which will be used to customize each individual Lumineer. The cosmetic dentist can also explain the Lumineers procedure to the patient and schedule a second appointment for when the Lumineers are ready to be placed.
The Positioning of Lumineers
On the second visit to The Dental Spa – Philadelphia, the Lumineers are placed, and the patient can leave with a stunning smile that they are sure to adore. Lumineers, unlike traditional veneers, do not require much, if any, tooth preparation, which means no tooth enamel must be removed to ensure a proper fit. The procedure is painless and can be finished in an hour or two. To ensure a proper fit, the cosmetic dentist will most likely test the Lumineers before bonding each one to the tooth.
How to Care For Your Lumineers?
Patients can extend the life of their Lumineers by practicing good oral hygiene, eating healthy, avoiding dental trauma, and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. This should help to prevent early stains or damage to the Lumineers in the form of chips, cracks, and other breaks.
- Brush and floss them regularly.
The material used to make Lumineers is stain-resistant. However, stains can still form if plaque accumulates on teeth regularly. As a result, patients should brush and floss several times per day to keep their mouth clean and fresh and to avoid the accumulation of plaque and tartar, which contributes to stains and damage to their Lumineers.
- Avoid stains-causing foods and beverages.
As previously stated, Lumineers are susceptible to stains in the same way that natural teeth are. This means the same foods and beverages that stain enamel can also stain porcelain. Therefore, limiting your intake of coffee, tea, alcohol, sugary snacks, and tomato-based dishes is critical. Of course, these foods and beverages are acceptable occasionally as long as the patient practices good oral hygiene afterward, but limiting these stain-causing foods and drinks is encouraged.
- Guard against dental trauma.
A blow to the mouth, teeth grinding while sleeping, and biting down on ice or hard foods can cause dental trauma. Wearing a mouthguard (or nightguard) during sports activities or if you have bruxism is critical to avoiding dental trauma. Of course, avoiding chewing ice and hard candies is also a good idea. This can guard against chips, cracks, and other types of damage to the Lumineers.
- Visit your dentist in Philadelphia, PA, regularly for cleanings and check-ups.
With Lumineers, regular cleaning and check-up visits are required to remove plaque and tartar from the Lumineers, natural tooth enamel, and along the gum line. In addition, gum disease and cavities in neighboring teeth can shorten the lifespan of your Lumineers.
A check-up visit also allows the dentist to ensure no problems with the Lumineers and to detect and treat any issues as early as possible. Therefore, all patients, especially those with Lumineers, should have a check-up and cleaning at our Lumineers near you every four to six months.