I had to save up quite a bit to cover the cost of the Lumineers I had done a couple years ago. My dentist kept referring to them as dental bonding or no-prep veneers. He did it all in on appointment. I am sadly disappointed, as they are starting to discolor already, after how much I spent on them. Do you know if it’s possible to lighten Lumineers?

-Jen in Nevada

Jen,

It is unfortunate that you are unhappy with your Lumineers. But dental bonding and Lumineers are two different types of cosmetic dentistry treatment. Porcelain veneers usually don’t discolor in such a short time and Lumineers are a brand of ultra-thin porcelain veneers. It is possible that you had dental bonding done and not Lumineers. When tooth bonding is done, it can discolor in this time frame. It requires going in for touch-ups and having it redone.

If indeed you had dental bonding done, which is sounds like you did, it may be time to consider porcelain veneers. When veneers are done properly by an expert cosmetic dentist, they can last for 15-20, sometimes even 30 years with regular maintenance. Now, if you did actually have Lumineers done in the first place, they cannot be lightened. Teeth whitening is only effective on natural teeth. Unfortunately it sounds like any option you choose to update the cosmetic dentistry work will require having it redone.

Don’t be bashful in addressing payment plans or possibly considering financing, if you are concerned about the cost of having the cosmetic dentistry redone.