I want to get a smile makeover. My dentist is suggesting Lumineers. They are pricey, so I’m not sure how many of them I can afford. I can do six but it looks like my smile is pretty wide. That means my other teeth will show and I’ll have two different looking teeth. I was looking around for information on alternatives and came across your site. It looks like as long as I whiten my teeth, the others will blend in with the Lumineers, right? Is there a way to know how much whitening I need as far as length of time?
Sandy
Dear Sandy,
It is good you are doing some research. I think this will save you some real anguish. First, yes, teeth whitening is a great option when you can’t get quite as many veneers as you need for the width of your smile. In fact, it is a common recommended step when it comes to getting a smile makeover.
I could not tell you with any certainty how much whitening you would need. That depends on a lot of factors, such as how white you want your smile makeover to be and how long you can tolerate wearing the bleaching trays. The basic principle is the longer you can wear the trays each day, the faster your teeth will whiten.
I wanted to bring up the Lumineers, though. This is just one brand of porcelain veneers. I’m a bit concerned that this is the brand your dentist is suggesting. It is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists and there are other options. The biggest problem with Lumineers is that the company who owns them insists that dentists use their laboratory. Unfortunately, this lab is not known for their artistry. Most expert cosmetic dentists have a ceramist they prefer to work with at a specific lab. One they can trust to create the results they’ve designed.
I’m going to suggest you get a second opinion with another dentist on the type of porcelain veneers to get. If it is a matter of cost and this dentist is cheaper, I suggest you go ahead with the teeth whitening, which will greatly improve your smile. Then, save up for the dentist who can do your smile makeover correctly. This way you end up with results that thrill you instead of disappoint you.
This blog is is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.