I had Lumineers placed years ago. At the time, I wanted them whiter than I was given but my dentist explained the tech told him that isn’t available. I’ve noticed these days you can get them very white. I realize that I cannot use teeth whitening to get them whiter, but wondered if it would be possible to get new Lumineers placed over my old ones?
Caryn
Dear Caryn,
Above is an advertisement the Lumineers brand put out years ago promoting this idea of new cosmetic work over old. What you are suggesting is pretty much the same thing. While you can do this, I do not recommend it. First, bonding porcelain to porcelain is much less secure than bonding porcelain to natural tooth structure. That means you have a real risk of bonding failure with the new set of Lumineers. Because your previous Lumineers are getting on in age, you have double the risk of bonding failure — one part from your old set and one part from the weaker bonded new set.
A second consideration is the margins will be vulnerable. Because you will have an older set of porcelain under the new, there is no way for them to be flush against the margins. This leaves a trap for food and other bacteria.
Finally, there is the thickness. You’ve got your natural teeth below the old veneers, which will be below the new veneers. This is very likely to have way too much bulk to it to look natural.
The Best Solution to Your Dingy Lumineers
With all that bad news you will be glad to know I have some good news as well. It is the same amount of work to re-do your smile makeover as it is to build one over the other. My suggestion is you just get a brand new smile makeover. However, I don’t think you should go to the same dentist. The ability to have very white Lumineers has been around from the beginning. It sounds like your dentist and his tech have not kept up with their field very well.
Cosmetic Dentistry is not a recognized specialty so any general dentist can do it regardless of their training and experience in these type of procedures. In order to become skilled, a dentist has to invest in a significant amount of post-doctoral training. It also helps to have some natural artistry. After all, doing a smile makeover is an art form in itself.
In your place, I would look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. These dentists have gone the extra mile to not only receive that training, but also to put their skills to the test through a rigorous accreditation process. Any one of them will be able to give you a stunning smile.
Don’t be surprised if they suggest NOT using Lumineers. They are just one brand of porcelain veneers and many expert cosmetic dentists do not like them. This is mostly because the company that owns Lumineers insists dentists use the company’s laboratory, which is not known for its skill or artistry.
A great cosmetic dentist will know the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and will pick just the right one to give you the desired outcome.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
