I am weighing the pros of cons of porcelain veneers versus Lumineers. I’m most concerned about tooth decay. Will it get under the veneers? Is there anyway to prevent that? If I get veneers wouldn’t there be an increased concern of getting food stuck in them?
-Gianna in Alabama
Gianna,
First off, it is important to realize that Lumineers is a brand of porcelain veneers. The main difference is that Lumineers don’t require any tooth preparation. Many excellent cosmetic dentists prefer traditional porcelain veneers over Lumineers because the brand comes with trademark and laboratory restrictions. Sometimes customers think they look bulky too since the tooth underneath hasn’t been prepped.
But your concern is toothy decay. The answer is no, there shouldn’t be an issue with decay occurring underneath either type of veneer if they are done correctly. They are bonded directly to your natural tooth so there should be no space between your natural tooth and the veneer itself. The porcelain will not decay. If for some reason there is a flaw in the dental bonding and you do end up with decay underneath the porcelain veneer, it will be treated similarly to how it would be treated if you didn’t have veneers. It is imperative to keep up with regular oral hygiene and maintenance of any kind of cosmetic dentistry treatment.
Instead of coming to a decision on your own, it would be in your best interest to meet with an experienced cosmetic dentist. He or she will be able to walk you through the pros and cons and help determine whether you are even a Lumineers candidate. Again, you should spend the time researching the best cosmetic dentist in your area and trust their recommendation, instead of finding a particular treatment and then finding a dentist. This is also because any dentist can claim to do porcelain veneers or Lumineers. It takes a true artist to create beautiful work.
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS