October 4, 2007—LOS ANGELES AND BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFO
IA— A great deal of patients who visit Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser inquire about Lumineers versus porcelain veneers.
Although Mobasser, a
cosmetic dentist for more than 27 years, prefers porcelain veneers to Lumineers in most cases, there are some good candidates for the less expensive Lumineers procedure, he said.
Determining which procedure best suits the patient is done through a consultation with a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry, Mobasser said. Patients who tend to be good candidates for Lumineers have their natural teeth intact and their teeth are fairly white and straight.
“If the underlying color of the teeth is yellowish to orange-brown, that discoloration may still show through the thin layer of Lumineers,” Mobasser said.
The reason for this is because Lumineers are very thin porcelain layers that compare in thickness to that of a contact lens. Masking of dark discoloration is almost impossible to do with Lumineers. And if thicker porcelain is placed, the teeth take on a bulky appearance.
“The teeth might look like Chicklets,” Mobasser said.
Lumineers still can be a good option for candidates with slightly yellow teeth, if they are willing to allow the cosmetic dentist to remove some of the tooth structure, which eliminates the discoloration.
The ideal Lumineers patient also has space between their top and bottom teeth, said Mobasser, who performs
cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles.
Patients with a “tight bite” are not good Lumineers candidates because applying Lumineers to the tooth surface slightly increases the biting surface in the mouth, and can change the patient’s bite pattern, he said.
Other patients who are not good candidates for Lumineers are those who frequently grind or clench their teeth. This is because they are used to their existing bite and could fracture the edges of the Lumineers by grinding or clenching them.
Mobasser also doesn’t recommend placing Lumineers over existing crowns, caps or bridges.
“Doing so can result in over-contoured porcelain that could irritate the gums,” he said “Also, masking the underlying black color that shows through the crown is very difficult. It would not be ideal in the cosmetic dentistry world.”
For those patients who don’t make ideal Lumineers candidates, porcelain veneers almost al383ways are the best alte
ative.
“The natural color of the veneers is much superior to Lumineers,” Mobasser said, adding that due to the small layer of porcelain to work with on Lumineers, it is difficult to make a dramatic color change if necessary. That is not the case with porcelain veneers.
When considering the benefits of porcelain veneers over Lumineers, the cosmetic dentist’s artistic ability, preparation procedure and overall experience “is of utmost importance,” Mobasser said.
One common misperception is that porcelain veneers always result in tooth sensitivity.
“If done properly, there should be no sensitivity,” Mobasser said.
Porcelain veneers also produce more natural looking teeth, and the contour is kinder to the gum, he said. If the doctor is preparing the veneers well, he or she is adding an amount of porcelain that mirrors the amount of natural tooth that was removed, resulting in a natural look.
Before undergoing either procedure, Mobasser reiterated, it is important to have proper records taken, which include, but are not limited to x-rays, preoperative impressions and bite analysis. Patients also should undergo a thorough consultation with a well-respected cosmetic dentist to go over the options, pros, cons, risks and benefits of the procedure in question.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more about Lumineers or porcelain veneers or you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mobasser at his Los Angeles
cosmetic dentistry office, please call: (310) 550-0383; or visit his web site:
www.celebritydentist.com.nn© 2007 Sinai Marketing and Dr. Anthony Mobasser. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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