Lumineer Archives - Coleman Dental

Can I Request a Refund for Discolored and Broken Lumineers?

August 2, 2019 by drscottcoleman

All I wanted to do was close a gap between my two front teeth and correct a chip on one from when I was a kid. My dentist told me that Lumineers was the way to go and he promised me a beautiful smile. But he wanted to do all six of my top front teeth to make sure it matched. I was a little uneasy about it because I really just wanted the middle two done. He said he couldn’t make it look nice unless I did all of them. Okay. I went along with it. We went through the prep day and everything seemed fine, but the day I went in to have them put on, one of them was cracked in the box. Really!? I can’t believe they didn’t realize it was broken until it got there. He then says he’s going to put the rest on and send that one back, and another one breaks while he’s cementing them. So, I go around looking goofy for a couple of weeks and go back for the other two, but they don’t match. He agrees to reorder them, and while we’re waiting, a third one breaks. I just want to be done with this. I have been waiting for months at this point and he still hasn’t gotten it right. Is this a common problem with Lumineers? If so, do I have grounds to request a refund?

Thanks,

Art in Georgia

Dear Art,

Lumineers, as a whole, can sometimes look okay, though it really depends on how skilled the dentist is. Unfortunately, a lot of dentists got it into their heads that the no-prep philosophy meant that they were easy to do, and they jumped right in and started giving them to patients. It’s under these circumstances that there are usually a lot of complaints about breakage, though having one arrive broken is certainly rare.

As for requesting a refund, you can always ask. He’ll probably want an opportunity to correct the work, though if he’s unskilled, any new work will likely wind up exactly the same.

If you decide to have them redone by another doctor, it’s best not to ask for the brand name. Many doctors who are incredibly skilled at cosmetic work use a similar ultra-thin veneer, though they use an in-house or local lab to make them. It’s also wise to ask for before and after photos of the doctor’s actual patients, so you can examine his work. Some will offer you stock photos, or images of patients who have had the same treatment, but they’re useless if they don’t showcase the cosmetic dentist’s personal skill. Best of luck to you.

Is it possible to get Lumineers if I grind my teeth?

July 27, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I have been unhappy with the way my teeth look for over a decade. I just haven’t been in position financially to make the investment in improving them. But I’m starting to think it is time to explore my options. My friend has recommended Lumineers and I think I would like to try them. But I do grind my teeth at night. Will they still work for me? If I don’t disclose the fact that I grind to the dentist, about how long will they last? I would be happy to get them replaced if they won’t hold up. I’m just so sick of the way my teeth look. I don’t want the dentist to tell me I’m not a candidate when I’m finally ready to move forward.

– Louise in Maryland

Louise,

It is very important to be upfront and honest with your dentist. You shouldn’t keep information from any health professional when you are seeking treatment of any kind. Grinding your teeth may not necessarily disqualify you from being a Lumineers candidate, but that information is imperative so the dentist can make the best recommendation.

The lifespan of Lumineers may be lessened if you grind, but there are so many factors involved with grinding, including the frequency, cause, etc. It is nearly impossible to estimate how long they will last. Your dentist may suggest a night guard. This works very well in protecting your teeth, including all types of porcelain veneers. It would be good to address the grinding issue and have a TMJ specialist or dentist help to diagnose the cause. Sometimes relaxation techniques and other TMJ treatments are beneficial in reducing grinding and clenching.

The best advice would be complete honesty. It is possible to achieve a beautiful smile with cosmetic dentistry even with your grinding. If the grinding is also addressed it will increase the longevity of whatever treatment is done.

If restorations are taken care of, they can last for many years. In some cases porcelain crowns and porcelain veneers can last for over a decade. But the key is taking care of them and for you that may be a night guard or appliance of some sort. Good luck in pursuing your beautiful smile.

Lip stuck on Lumineers. Is this a scare tactic by my dentist?

July 27, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I went into my dentist because I have heard about how Lumineers can give a Hollywood smile, without a Hollywood price tag. Well, my dentist went on and on about how many unsatisfied Lumineers patients he has seen. He was telling me about all these problems, including that some girl’s lip kept getting stuck on them. Is he just trying to scare me and talk me into more expensive porcelain veneers?

– Angela in Nevada

Angela,

Thank you for your question. Lumineers are a particular brand of ultra-thin porcelain veneers. The big selling point that the company promotes is that they don’t require any tooth preparation. Traditional veneers require a tiny portion of the enamel to be shaved down, ever so slightly. This step is important for traditional veneers because it creates a seamless, undetectable look.

Your dentist may have approached the topic in a way that feels like you are being talked out of it. But the truth is that many excellent cosmetic dentists do not like Lumineers. This particular brand of veneers is required to be created in Den-Mat’s (the manufacturer) laboratory. So this requirement limits the creativity and artistry of a skilled cosmetic dentist. Also, he is correct that many Lumineers patients are not happy. Since the tooth preparation step is skipped, Lumineers can sometimes make your teeth look bulky and longer than normal, and it isn’t unheard of to cause difficulty speaking or getting the lip stuck on them. So instead of going to your dentist and telling him you want a certain treatment, you’d be much better off to seek the talents of a true cosmetic dentist that is passionate about creating beauty. And let him or her recommend the best cosmetic dentistry treatment for your unique facial features, complexion, personality, and smile design goals. Even though Lumineers may be less expensive, if you are going to invest in this kind of money in cosmetic dentistry, you want to love your new smile. Don’t settle for anything less than absolutely loving it.

Hopefully, this information is helpful.

The dentist put stain on my Lumineers.

July 26, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I just spent over $13K on Lumineers. The dentist that did them ordered stain because it was supposed to help them look more natural. I really was hoping for a bright, white look. But what he ended up doing is ugly. Then, when I complained about it he decided to drill off the top portion of them so they could be whitened. Now they look dull and the shape isn’t right. Was drilling the correct thing to do? I cannot believe I feel this way after spending so much money. Do you have any advice?

– Denise in Missouri

Denise,

Well, unfortunately it sounds like the damage is done at this point. There isn’t that much that can be done, unless their appearance is bad enough. The only way you may be able to recoup some of the cost is to see a new dentist that sides with you and pressures the first dentist into some sort of refund so you can have the work re-done.

Thank you for sharing your story about your Lumineers mishap though. Hopefully, it will help someone else be a little more careful in selecting a dentist for cosmetic dentistry. What most people fail to realize is that fewer than one or two percent of dentists have the artistic ability and passion to create a beautiful smile with porcelain veneers. Most expert cosmetic dentists won’t even place Lumineers. They come with strict trademark regulations that they be done in the Lumineers lab and they are not very natural-looking because they tend to look long and bulky.

The stain you described is a technique that was taught in dental school as a way to make teeth appear more natural-looking. So it is likely that the dentist was trying to follow this recommendation. The thing is, it doesn’t look natural in many cases. There are so many factors involved in creating beautiful cosmetic dentistry that far too few truly understand, as well as an expert-level understanding of the bonding techniques and methods used to place them.

Sadly, you will likely want to have these veneers redone in the future. This next time around, ask to see cases similar to yours, check their credentials, and go with someone that offers a beautiful smile guarantee. Most excellent cosmetic dentists will offer some type of assurance that if you don’t love the way the veneers look before they are permanently bonded, they will be sent back to the lab.

Thank you for your question and best of luck!

Can new Lumineers be put over top of old ones?

July 24, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I have Lumineers and have for years. They don’t look that great anymore. Have you ever heard of placing new Lumineers over old ones to freshen up a smile? I understand teeth whitening won’t work on Lumineers. So, I was wondering if adding a new layer of Lumineers would improve how they look? When I originally had them done, my dentist knew I wanted them whiter but he was told that wasn’t an option. He’s a nice guy and I’ve been happy with him for most of my treatment, but I don’t think I need to keep my “dingy” teeth when I’m sure there is a way they can be better? Do you have any insight?

-Lisa in Michigan

Lisa,

Technically, it is possible to place new Lumineers over old Lumineers. But that’s just silly.

Just for clarification and for any other web viewers reading this response, it is important to realize the Lumineers are just another brand of porcelain veneers. Lumineers are popular, mainly because of the huge advertising campaign behind them. At one time, several years ago, the Lumineers brand was promoting the option to place Lumineers on top of crowns. So, it is possible you saw something about that. But, the truth is that most patients didn’t like them. There was no shortage of reader complaints and the company no longer promotes this approach. Placing new Lumineers over old ones is similar to the concept of covering crowns with them.

If a dentist was to place new porcelain veneers (Lumineers) over old ones, he or she would essentially be doing them over anyway. For example, the old veneers would require preparation and you would get a much better result if they were simply redone. You also would run the risk of the final product being too thick and not looking natural.

This idea of placing new ones on top of the old ones, really wouldn’t have the staying power of having the smile makeover redone either. When porcelain is bonded onto porcelain, the bond isn’t as strong or successful as if the tooth bonding was done to a natural tooth. Think about this possibility as well, what happens when the veneer underneath has issues? Again, it is in your best interest to have them redone. Otherwise you run the risk of them looking funny and they may stain more easily along the margin.

Also, going back to your original question about your dentist claiming that a whiter color wasn’t available, that is just not right. It sounds like your dentist may be a great general or family dentist. But cosmetic dentistry isn’t his thing. In order to do beautiful cosmetic dentistry, a dentist must undergo extensive training beyond dental school. It also takes a passion for aesthetics and an artistic eye to deliver truly beautiful results. You may not realize that less than two percent of dentists will create a stunning smile makeover. So, maybe it’s time to consult with an expert cosmetic dentist that can give you the smile you have always wanted.

Will a night guard protect my cosmetic dentistry while I sleep?

July 19, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I just spent a lot of money on a smile makeover. I now have eight Lumineers on my front teeth. Now, the dentist is telling me I need a night guard? Is this important? He said he can tell I grind my teeth but I really am not aware of this. I am stretching my budget and feel like he’s just selling me. If I don’t need it, I don’t want to fork out the extra money for it. Anyone heard of this?

– Melissa in Missouri

Melissa,

Cosmetic dentistry can be expensive. Although, it should be assumed that your cosmetic dentist has your best interest in mind. If he has seen hints of damage on your teeth and can tell you have been grinding, a night guard is well worth protecting the investment you just made on your beautiful new smile. An oral appliance helps to protect many cosmetic dentistry treatments like Lumineers and porcelain veneers, or porcelain crowns. Veneers may chip or crack under the force of night grinding.

Another thing worth mentioning is that since your Lumineers are new, they feel different to your body. So many people will grind subconsciously because of that. If your bite feels different, grinding, biting, and clenching can occur while you are asleep. In addition to breaking, the Lumineers may come off if left unprotected and. A night guard will also help to prevent gum recession.

You can expect a new night guard to be a couple hundred dollars or more. But when you compare what you have already paid on your smile makeover, hopefully you agree it is worth spending.

Unfortunately, your dentist should have mentioned this at the beginning of treatment so you don’t feel like he is trying to sell you. But you strongly should consider getting a night guard if you are a grinder.

Will People Be Able to Tell If I Have Lumineers?

July 17, 2019 by drscottcoleman

I went to my dentist for a consultation on Lumineers. I thought they’d be good for me because I have uneven discoloration and a small chip on one of my teeth. I also really liked the idea of having minimal preparation work done because my teeth are healthy. I don’t want to ruin them. My dentist said that Lumineers, and any other type of veneer, are a bad choice because people will be able to see where the veneer ends and my natural tooth starts when I open my mouth wide or tip my head back. Is this true? He wants me to have “cosmetic crowns” done because they’ll cover the whole tooth and be indistinguishable. I don’t want to remove more tooth than I need to, but I also don’t want to look ridiculous. What should I do?

Sincerely,

Aurora in Illinois

Dear Aurora,

It isn’t true that porcelain veneers will look fake or that people will be able to tell where the veneer ends. Done correctly, porcelain veneers are the most natural-looking and beautiful of all dental restorations. However, with the Lumineers brand, our experience is that they often look fake–not because of seeing where the Lumineer ends, but because the color ends up being too opaque and the shape isn’t natural.

Having said that, I would still listen to your dentist because he is telegraphing to you that he is uncomfortable doing porcelain veneers.

Cosmetic dentistry is like an art and takes extensive training to deliver beautiful results. Although cosmetic dentistry isn’t a designated specialty are within dentistry, you should look for an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) has put into place a rigorous accreditation program for dentists that seek the highest level of professionalism and skill in cosmetic dentistry. If you find an accredited cosmetic dentist, you can trust that the dentist has a high standard when it comes to the services offered.

With any kind of cosmetic dental work, the doctor has to have quite a bit of skill. This is true whether you’re getting some form of porcelain veneer, a porcelain crown, or even a tooth-colored filling. The doctor has to be able to make the colors match flawlessly and make sure the joint between the veneer and the tooth is perfectly smooth. If he fails in getting the color or translucency correct, your dental work stands out like a sore thumb. If the restoration is bulky, or not flush with your natural tooth, it will be obvious, plus it will collect debris and plaque.

Also, doing porcelain crowns would be overkill. It would seem a shame to grind down perfectly healthy teeth to do crowns simply because your family dentist doesn’t know how to do veneers well.

If you insisted on having the veneers procedure done by your current dentist, you would probably be unhappy with the results. He knows his limitations and he’s telling you he can’t make it look right, even though he’s blaming the procedure and not his technique. If you want to have porcelain veneers done, see an accredited cosmetic dentist. If you can’t find an accredited cosmetic dentist, the next best thing would be to ask about their cosmetic dentistry credentials, check out their portfolio and ask to see cases similar to yours. But whatever you decide, don’t ask your current dentist to do veneers.