problems with Lumineers Archives

Is there Hope for My Lumineers Nightmare?

September 3, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I literally spent thousands of dollars to have Lumineers done across my four front teeth. They didn’t feel right from the moment my dentist put them on, but they told me I would adjust. Sadly, I have not been given the opportunity, because the darn things keep falling off. Seriously, not two days later after they were put on, I was back in the office having one of them put on again. A couple days later, another one popped off. This has been going on for months and I don’t think I’ve gone two weeks without having to go back in. I just finished eating dinner and I realized my teeth felt funny, so I went and looked and two of them are gone. TWO! I think I must have swallowed them with dinner. Now that’s a concern for obvious reasons, but I’m also worried the dentist is going to charge me for a whole new set because I don’t have anything for him to glue back on this time. I really wish I had never had them done in the first place. What should I do?

Thanks,

Peter in Washington

Dear Peter,

First off, swallowing your Lumineers probably isn’t a huge cause for concern. These things tend to pass without issue and you probably won’t even notice when it leaves your system. The fact that they keep coming off, however, is a concern. Your dentist is bonding them wrong, and he should have figured that out by now. Or he should have come up with an alternate treatment if he couldn’t get them to work. If you want to stick with Lumineers, you should find a cosmetic dentist who does them frequently and has a high rate of success.

There was nothing that you could have done to prevent the issues- it’s a technique error. As such, it’s your dentist’s responsibility to repair or replace them. If you feel confident enough that your dentist can perform an alternate treatment, perhaps porcelain veneers, you might have some success. The only other real alternative is to ask for a refund and find a cosmetic dentist who can repair or redo the work.

Also, you probably don’t want to hear this now, but the best cosmetic dentists refuse to place Lumineers. Each has their own reasons, but the majority feel that a much more beautiful result can be done with other brands of porcelain veneers. So, if you aren’t confident that your current dentist can give you a smile you will fall in love with, it’s time to move on. Not just any dentist can do cosmetic dentistry well. But since it’s not a regulated field within dentistry, any dentist can claim to do it without any extra training. So be careful in asking your dentist to do something he isn’t completely confident in. Or you could be looking at a bigger nightmare than you are already dealing with. Thank you for your question. Hopefully, it helps someone else considering Lumineers.

Lumineers keep falling off!

August 30, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I was so excited to finally get my new Lumineers! I ended up getting five put on my teeth which I was excited about at first. But, I’m about at my wits end because they keep falling off. I keep having to go back to the dentist to have them bonded again. It is getting so annoying. But this time when one came off, I swallowed it. Are you kidding me? Now my dentist is suggesting porcelain veneers that are supposed to be something like $1,200 a tooth. But I just paid a lot of money (by my standards) for Lumineers. Any advice? I don’t know what to do.

– Kelli in Arizona

Kelli,

Sorry to hear that your Lumineers are giving you so much trouble. You may be surprised to hear that this isn’t that uncommon with Lumineers. Many times patients simply aren’t happy with the result. Although the marketing behind the brand makes them sound like the best thing since sliced bread, the no-preparation technique sometimes can leave them looking bulky, too long, and when they are done by a dentist that may not have that much training in cosmetic dentistry, they sometimes fall off.

Whether you are interested in Lumineers or traditional porcelain veneers, it’s the cosmetic dentist that matters. There is much advanced training required beyond dental school to do beautiful cosmetic dentistry. They must also possess an artistic eye, understand the advanced bonding techniques and materials required, and really understand what you are trying to accomplish with your smile design to deliver a beautiful smile. But since cosmetic dentistry isn’t a regulated field within dentistry, any dentist can place them. As a patient, you tend to take a dentist at his or her word. But you really need to investigate and research their credentials and experience to understand their skill level. Ask to see cases similar to yours, check out their training, and ask for testimonials. An excellent cosmetic dentist will not hesitate to win you over.

As for moving forward with your current dentist, maybe you could request that the amount that you are due for the Lumineers is credited toward porcelain veneers. That said, investigating their experience would be wise before making any final decision.

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

August 17, 2021 by Brian Sartin

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.