Simple, Effective, Minimally Invasive Smile Enhancement
Smiling is proven to be good for your health and good for your mood, but a smile that’s marred by discoloration, chips, gaps, and other cosmetic issues may make you feel reluctant to show it off. There are many cosmetic dentistry methods available to improve your smile, but you may sometimes find these methods too invasive or ineffective. Fortunately, Dr. Garger of Gentle Family Dentistry offers smile enhancement with predictable results and minimally invasive installation using porcelain veneers and Lumineers.
What Are Porcelain Veneers?
Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped, porcelain shells. Your dentist adheres them to the front of your teeth to hide cosmetic issues such as:
- Cracks
- Chips
- Discoloration
- Sizing Issues
- Tooth Decay
- Minor Crowding
- Minor Gaps
- Teeth That Don’t Respond To Whitening
- Misshapen Teeth
- Worn Down Enamel
To install your porcelain veneers, all Dr. Garger has to do is remove a miniscule amount of enamel from the fronts of your teeth, no more than the width of a fingernail.
What Are Lumineers?
Lumineers are a type of dental veneer manufactured by the DenMat dental laboratory. They offer many of the same benefits as porcelain veneers, but they’re made of Cerinate porcelain, a leucite reinforced ceramic pressed into an extremely thin form no thicker than .3mm. The texture of Lumineers is more akin to a contact lens than a rigid porcelain shell.
Due to their ultra-thin design, Lumineers can be placed directly onto the tooth with little or no enamel removal. The lack of enamel alteration makes Lumineers a more accessible option for those with dental anxiety and dental sensitivity. Besides requiring less invasive installation than porcelain veneers, Lumineers are:
- More Affordable
- Look More Natural
- Easier To Remove
Benefits of Porcelain Veneers and Lumineers
No matter which type of dental veneer you choose, porcelain veneers and Lumineers can help you get the smile you’ve always wanted. Dental veneers offer reliably stunning and long-lasting results without more invasive treatments, so you won’t have to worry about your treatment being ineffective or requiring drawn out healing times. As an additional benefit, both kinds of dental veneers can help protect your natural enamel from dental sensitivity.
The Porcelain Veneers and Lumineers Process
Step 1: Consultation
Before receiving porcelain veneers or Lumineers, you’ll attend an initial consultation with Dr. Garger. Your dentist will perform a thorough evaluation of your teeth, gums, and jaw, review your medical history, and discuss your smile goals with you. This information will allow him to determine if porcelain veneers or Lumineers are right for you.
Step 2: Imaging & Design
If you and Dr. Garger agree to go forward with porcelain veneers or Lumineers, we’ll help you pick the shade of porcelain you want for your future smile. Then, we’ll take images and impressions of your teeth which will be used as the blueprints for your porcelain veneers or Lumineers.
Step 3: Preparation
We’ll clean your teeth thoroughly to provide a sanitary surface for the veneers to adhere to. If you’re getting porcelain veneers and have sensitive teeth, we can apply a local anesthetic to help you stay pain-free. Depending on the specifics of your case, your dentist may provide you with temporary veneers to protect your smile and give you an idea of what your veneers will be like. Dr. Garger can make changes to your permanent veneers during the development stage based on the feedback you give him about your temporaries.
Step 4: Installing Your Veneers
Your dentist will remove any temporary veneers if you received them. If you’re receiving porcelain veneers, your dentist will simply remove a small amount of enamel from the font of the tooth. If you’re receiving Lumineers, your dentist will simply attach the veneer with a specially made bonding agent called Tenure® to the fronts of your teeth. Your dentist may help the bonding agent set with a handheld blue light. Whether you’ve chosen porcelain veneers or Lumineers, you’ll be free to enjoy your new smile once your veneers are in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Porcelain veneers are built to last 10 to 15 years, but they may last upwards of 20 to 30 years with proper oral hygiene and regular dental exams. Lumineers are built to last 10 years, although they may also last longer if you give them the same care and maintenance porcelain veneers need.
The best part about porcelain veneers and Lumineers is that you can maintain them just like your natural teeth. To get the most out of your dental veneers, your dentist recommends the following:
- Attend regular dental exams at Gentle Family Dentistry
- Practice oral hygiene including brushing, flossing, and rinsing between meals
- Avoid staining foods and drinks
- Don’t chew on hard objects, such as ice or your fingernails
- Avoid tobacco products & limit alcohol use, these substances can stain and dissolve the adhesive
Lumineers are generally less expensive than porcelain veneers, but the exact cost of either type of veneer will vary based on multiple factors including how many veneers you need and your insurance.
Dr. Garger and the rest of our team at Gentle Family Dentistry encourage you to call your provider beforehand and ask them which costs they can cover. To help our patients get the treatment they need to enjoy their smile to the fullest, Gentle Family Dentistry is happy to offer flexible financing options including CareCredit and new patient specials.
Enjoy A Beautiful Smile With Porcelain Veneers & Lumineers
With the aid of porcelain veneers and Lumineers, your dentist can help you enjoy all the benefits of a beautiful smile through minimally invasive and noninvasive means. Dr. Garger offers his years of professional experience beautifying smiles to his Bakersfield patients as well as patients from surrounding areas.
If you’re interested in the predictably brilliant results that our dental veneers can offer, then contact Gentle Family Dentistry at our Bakersfield office by dialing 661-664-9900 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Garger. You can also fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page and a friendly team member will get back to you shortly.