What Is the Best Type of Veneer?
Posted by writeradmin
I want to get a smile makeover with porcelain veneers. I went to a couple of dentists and they have each recommended a different type. I’ve heard zirconia, feldspathic, and Lumineers. I don’t know how to choose between them. Do you have a recommendation?
Sarina
Dear Sarina,
Thank you for writing. I can tell you are trying to be diligent in your research. I like that you’re asking questions and trying to get the information you need in order to make a good decision. A couple of suggestions made to you have me concerned, which leads right into the need to shift your question a bit. Instead of asking which material or even which brand, as you have a brand listed as well, you need to ask how to find the right dentist.
Smile makeovers are an art form. Like any art form, it’s the talent of the artist that mattered. If you gave two different artists the exact same material to use to paint, same type of brushes, paints, canvas, etc., and even the same subject to paint, the results for each would be very different. You need a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist to do your porcelain veneers.
Smile makeovers are not adequately taught in dental school. So, the first thing you want to look for is whether or not they’ve taken post-doctoral training in cosmetic dental work. After that, take a peek at their smile gallery on their website to see what type of before and after results they get. You may want to take the extra precaution of asking their office if the images on their smile gallery are from cases the dentist did personally.
All that being said, I would immediately cross off your list the dentist who suggested zirconia as well as the one who suggested the Lumineers brand. Zirconia is taken from blocks of porcelain, which means the dentist will not be able to replicate the variations in opacity and color you would get from a more traditional porcelain. That’s fine on back teeth for something like crowns or dental implants, but you’re talking about the teeth visible when you smile.
Lumineers is a brand of porcelain veneers that is highly marketed to inexperienced dentists as being easy to place. Plus, the company that makes them requires dentists to use their lab, which is not known for its artistic results. Most highly skilled artistic dentists won’t use them.
Find the right dentist and, based on the smile design you want, they will know the right materials and brand to create that specific look.
This blog is brought to you by Birmingham, AL Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Thomas Dudney.
