Naturally perfectly beautiful and straight teeth are rare. 95% of people have some kind of dental defect that makes a person feel embarrassed about their own smile. Such defects include an unsightly shape, the presence of gaps between the elements of the dentition, an unaesthetic shade of the enamel (for example, yellowish or grayish), spots and cracks in the enamel. But all these defects can be eliminated: to do this, just contact the dentists, who will offer different options for acquiring a beautiful smile. And one of these options is lumineers for teeth.
In the article we will tell you in detail about what lumineers are, in what cases they are installed, how the installation of lumineers is carried out, and how much it will cost in Moscow.
What are Lumineers?
To make a patient’s smile beautiful, dentists use specialized onlays. They are made from ceramics. The products are thin and highly resistant to mechanical stress. The products do not require special care. It is enough to carry out hygiene procedures daily.
Teeth onlays are made in a wide range of colors. This allows you to choose a product that matches the color of the patient’s tooth enamel and makes it invisible against the background of adjacent teeth. Installation of lumineers does not require tissue damage by grinding. The overlays are fixed to the enamel with an adhesive. If necessary, you can remove the product or replace it with a new one without causing harm to the patient’s teeth.
For the manufacture of plates, environmentally friendly materials are used that do not cause allergic reactions in the patient. The outer surface is resistant to the negative effects of various foods. With prolonged use, the linings do not lose their color and physical characteristics.
For reliable fixation, the inner surface of the plate is made porous. This improves the adhesive properties of the surface. The adhesive composition contains useful microelements. They strengthen tooth enamel and protect it from destruction for a long time.
Features of installing lumineers on teeth
Dentists offer two ways to install lumineers - with preliminary minor grinding of the enamel or without preparation at all. By the way, lumineers can be fixed to crowns and dentures.
Main stages of product installation:
- Preparatory. It involves diagnosing the condition of gums and teeth, professional cleaning of plaque and tartar, and treating caries. Lumineers are placed exclusively on healthy teeth to avoid the development of hidden pathologies.
- Planning. At this stage, impressions of the jaws are made. Using 3D modeling, you can see what your smile will look like after lumineers are installed. The prostheses themselves are manufactured in the laboratory within 3 to 14 days.
- Installation. Before fixation, lumineers are always tried on; the dentist must finally make sure that the plates fit perfectly. The onlays are attached to the enamel using dental adhesive, which provides absolute adhesion. The glue is compatible with the acidic environment of the oral cavity - the patient can be calm, the lumineer will not fall off.
Indications and contraindications
The installation of lumineers is indicated in some cases to improve the aesthetic qualities of teeth. Products can be installed on both front and back teeth. Indications for installation:
- Damage to teeth.
- Darkening and stains on the enamel.
- Presence of large gaps between teeth.
- Darkening of fillings.
- Curvature of teeth.
- Crowns on the front teeth that have an unaesthetic appearance.
- Grinded teeth.
The list of indications for installation does not end there. Lumineers are installed to improve the appearance of your teeth.
Contraindications are associated primarily with the presence of diseases, after treatment of which installation is possible. Contraindications:
- Caries at any stage of development.
- Cutting teeth (bruxism). It is observed in patients during sleep. During grinding, high pressure is applied to the surface of the teeth.
- Periodontitis.
- Severe crooked teeth or malocclusion.
Before installation, you should consult a specialist. The dentist will conduct diagnostic measures and, if necessary, prescribe treatment for the disease.
In what cases are lumineers not used?
Lumineers are a type of aesthetic prosthetics that are not suitable for all patients. The installation of ceramic onlays will have to be abandoned in the following clinical situations:
- Severe bite defects, abnormal curvature and crowding of teeth. In such circumstances, lumineers cannot solve the problem - preliminary orthodontic treatment is required, after which aesthetic prosthetics are planned;
- Contraindications are periodontal diseases;
- Ceramic plates are not installed in patients suffering from bruxism. Fragile ceramics will not withstand such a load and will break.
Patients with diagnosed abnormal abrasion of tooth enamel and the presence of fillings whose size is more than 50% of the total tooth area will have to refuse lumineers. And of course, before carrying out aesthetic prosthetics, it is necessary to cure caries, gum inflammation, and clean the dental surfaces of tartar and plaque.
Differences between lumineers and veneers
The main distinguishing feature of lumineers is their installation technology. On average, the thickness of veneers is 0.6 millimeters, lumineers – 0.2 mm. To install veneers, the dentist must grind down the patient's teeth. If you install veneers on entire teeth, the veneers will protrude forward and look unnatural.
Installation of lumineers is possible without preliminary sharpening of teeth. Before fixation, the specialist cleans the tooth. The nozzle is attached using a specialized adhesive.
How do you know if Lumineers are right for you?
It should be understood that installing lumineers in Moscow or any other city is not a quick process, requiring several visits to the clinic. At the first of them, you can ask the doctor to help you decide whether you need lumineers. To do this, the doctor will take a photo of your teeth, then use a computer to simulate a picture that will show the result of installing lumineers as close to reality as possible. If you like everything, impressions will be taken of your teeth and the dentist will send them to where the onlays are made, that is, in the USA. Why there? Because Lumineers are a patented technology, and only a few American laboratories have the right to manufacture them.
Installation benefits
One of the best ways to improve the aesthetic appearance of a patient's smile is to bond veneers. The products have a number of advantages:
- Possibility of installation without grinding teeth. Attaching the overlays does not involve processing fabrics. Only cleaning is used.
- With prolonged use, the surface of the products does not darken or change color.
- High installation speed. The patient will only need 2 to 3 visits to a specialist.
- Possibility of removing lumineers. The products can be removed without harming the patient's teeth.
- Wide range of colors. Thanks to a wide selection of shades, you can choose products that completely match the color of natural enamel. This allows you to install both several and one tooth in a row.
- Long service life. With proper care, lumineers can be used for more than 20 years.
- Comfort to use. The thickness of the overlay is 0.2 mm. Thanks to this, the patient quickly gets used to the design and does not experience discomfort.
- No allergic reactions. Environmentally friendly materials are used in the manufacture of the structure.
Ultraneers or “E.max ultra-thin veneers”
Ultraneers are created from German-made E.max ceramics. They are much thinner than veneers, but slightly thicker than lumineers - their thickness is no more than 0.6 mm. Therefore, in some cases, it is possible to do without tooth preparation, or to carry out very minimal grinding.
Pros:
- excellent aesthetics comparable to Lumineers,
- an alternative to lumineers in almost all respects,
- maximum naturalness of the renewed dentition,
- preservation of the color and shape of the dentures,
- more durable ceramics than those used to create veneers, which is why ultraneers are thinner than veneers,
- fast production times for overlays, because they are created in Russia,
- long service life - 10 years or more.
Minuses:
Among the relative disadvantages of ultranir is, again, their cost. They are 30% cheaper than lumineers, but restoring the entire dentition will still cost a pretty penny. In addition, when installing ultraneers, it is often necessary to grind the teeth, albeit minimally.
Expert comment:
Alina Chilingaryan, dental therapist: “Ultraneers are an intermediate option between inexpensive veneers and high-priced lumineers. Their cost is 30% lower than lumineers, that is, about 20 thousand rubles per tooth. At the same time, they can be installed faster, since they are created in Russia. But in some cases you can’t do without turning.”
How does fixation happen?
The procedure for installing lumineers is carried out in two stages. You can install the onlays in two or three visits to the dentist. The exact period depends on the individual characteristics of each patient. During the first visit, the specialist will examine the patient's oral cavity and conduct a survey. The doctor will advise the patient about the cost of installation. The dentist will create an impression from which the structure will be made in the future.
When you visit the specialist again, the onlays will be ready, and the dentist will install them. Before fixation, the doctor checks the shape and color of the product with a pre-made cast. The overlays are installed with a high-strength adhesive. This prevents spontaneous peeling of the product and the ingress of food particles between the lumineers and the enamel.
The installation procedure takes a minimum amount of time. During fixation of the pads, the patient does not experience pain or discomfort. Without the need for tooth preparation, lumineers can be installed without the use of anesthesia.
How to install veneers
Installation of ceramic veneers:
- Special casts are prepared. Based on them, the dental technician makes plates in the laboratory.
- Temporary plastic onlays are glued onto the prepared teeth.
- Replace plastic pads with permanent ones after 2-4 weeks. Permanent plates are fixed to the teeth using special cement.
Composite veneers are usually placed in one visit to the dental office. The doctor, under anesthesia, prepares the patient's teeth, after which a composite material is applied to them, layer by layer, achieving the desired shade.
Unfortunately, this type of restoration is less durable. Without regular polishing, the finish quickly becomes dull. It soon loses its original shine.
Lumineers care
Correctly installed high quality pads will serve the patient for a long time. The structures look natural and do not differ from the color of tooth enamel. To preserve the physical properties, the products should be properly cared for.
Cleaning lumineers is carried out in the same way as dental hygiene procedures. You need to clean your lumineers twice a day. When carrying out hygiene measures, a person can use a paste and a brush at his own discretion. Avoid using cleaning paste containing small solid particles. They can act as an abrasive material and lead to rapid abrasion of the material.
When carrying out hygiene procedures, special attention should be paid to dental spaces. Floss is used to remove food debris. Using dental floss allows you to remove small particles in hard-to-reach places. To increase the life of the onlays, you should visit your dentist regularly. You should have your teeth professionally cleaned at least once every 6 months.
Why do veneers darken?
The main reasons for the darkening of veneers include:
- non-compliance with the dentist’s recommendations (frequent smoking, consumption of drinks and foods that contain large amounts of coloring substances);
- insufficient oral care. Neglecting regular brushing of teeth can lead to the formation of plaque on the surface of the veneers, which in the future contributes to their darkening;
- damage to the adhesive fixing base. The resulting voids are filled with food particles. This provokes the accumulation of deposits that change the color of tooth enamel. The transillumination of such areas through the veneer creates a visual sensation of darkening of the microprosthesis itself.
Excessive cleaning of veneers is also not recommended. When using toothbrushes of increased rigidity and toothpastes with coarse abrasive particles, microdamage may occur on the surface of the veneers, creating a favorable environment for the accumulation of deposits when consuming coloring substances contained in drinks and food.
Aesthetics of the front teeth: what problems can veneers solve?
Installing veneers is a quick and easy way to create an ideal beauty area. Teeth become straight, acquire regular shapes and attractive whiteness.
“Where to get the best veneers?” is a question that worries many. There are many clinics offering similar services.
This is a piece of jewelry, so before installing veneers you should look through reviews and choose the best conditions. Overlays will become a salvation, a way out in difficult situations when:
- The teeth are healthy, but the enamel has darkened and stains have appeared.
- It is necessary to give aesthetics to the row (there are units that are curved and have slopes).
- Requires masking of minor cracks and chips.
- It is necessary to visually correct uneven interdental spaces.
Good quality veneers are made individually - you can cover all the front teeth and create a radiant smile or correct the defect of one unit.
Retraction of the gingival margin: what is it and why is it necessary?
Do you want beautiful teeth and the best veneers? As they say, if you love to ride, you also love to carry a sled. When installing veneers, the patient has to undergo a number of slightly unsympathetic procedures, and one of them is gum retraction.
It is necessary to move the gum away from the neck of the tooth mechanically to avoid traumatizing it. Gum retraction is performed using a retraction cord, which is removed before the impression is taken. If necessary, local anesthesia is used. The thread between the tooth and gum is immersed to a shallow depth. Then, of course, it is removed and no trace remains of its presence under the gum. As well as any unpleasant sensations - in the patient.
Description: Any shades, made individually taking into account the shape of natural teeth, complying with dozens of criteria for smile aesthetics. The base is computerized, microscoped and finished by hand for long-lasting quality. The ceramics consists of 10 layers, but made exactly according to the individual design of the master craftsmen. Price level: from 350 €. Option 7. Expert level class.
Description: Any shades, made individually taking into account the shape of natural teeth. Ceramics consists of up to 10 layers, made according to an individual scheme; masters use high-tech equipment, taking into account the individualization of the bite and the entire dental system. Not just aesthetics, but the correct function of each curve and tooth structure (morphology).
Option 8. Extra Brut level class.
Description: Any shades, made individually taking into account the shape of natural teeth. The ceramics are made according to the personal design of exclusive “branded” craftsmen with a natural aesthetic and artistic bent. True price level: from 1,500 €.
Option 9. Composite veneers.
This type of restoration is most often made for temporary use. True price level: Depends on time spent, number of shades and composite material effects. From 50 €.
Option 0. Zirconium veneers.
There are no zirconium veneers. Zirconium is not intended for production using veneer technology. Zirconium veneers are a marketing name. In general, zirconium veneers are absurd.
Option 0. Ultraneers, minirs, juviners.
I might as well name it after myself, Levinira. Any names other than “veneers” are marketing, just like Lumineers. Lumineers are a coined American name for the same ceramic overlays (veneers). What are the differences, read at the beginning of the article.
Quality Try to distinguish quality not by name, but by craftsmanship and the final result, which can be seen on your teeth before treatment begins, without treating the teeth. Also, the price may vary from the required goal achieved in aesthetic rehabilitation and the subtleties in the correct function of the entire system, which is influenced by the prognosis that I give up to 40 years.
Note! Prices are presented as a guide to the types of quality and type of aesthetics. This is a global order of prices not related to treatment prices. In order for you to have the correct perception of price and not have a substituted concept of cost and differences. You need to understand the price, like everything else.
The more aesthetically pleasing veneers are, the closer they are to natural teeth - they repeat the contours of the tooth and are close to the natural structure of the tooth, truly indistinguishable and in harmony with external factors, giving the correct perception and emotions.
Let us not force ourselves to be deceived by substituting understanding. After all, we always want better and higher quality for ourselves and so that it suits us. If you compare two things, for example, the companies Zara and Versace, then the majority, looking in the mirror, will say, yes, I want exactly this, it fits me better and is apparently made according to other “standards” of cut and quality. Of course, sometimes it is clear that we overpay only for the brand. Likewise, in dentistry there are exclusive specialist technicians, who have a high cost due to their presence, although no better than non-branded, but expert ones.
When I am asked to make my teeth whiter, I always ask, Do you need a smile for quality perception by others and for harmony with your appearance, or do you just need something white on your teeth? The answer is clear, but the choice more often falls on something simply white on the teeth due to inexperience in perception. The shade can be made from white tones, but without special effects and dozens of aesthetic criteria, just white veneers look inseparable and do not merge with the character’s appearance.
Dispelling myths. Is treatment abroad more profitable and reliable? A natural question arises: where to find good dentistry and an experienced specialist? Many people go abroad for a beautiful smile, but is it worth it? Maybe there are good clinics in Russia too?
I tell everyone one thing: everything is the same everywhere in the world, and Russia is no exception. There are both good dental clinics and very bad ones. It happens that my colleagues from Germany show such cases that it seems that nothing could be worse, and at the same time they have a level of treatment that would be the envy of many countries. All countries have both good and low-level dentistry. Of course, we are talking about civilized countries.
In the world of dentistry: everything is relative. Having studied at three of the best individual schools of dentistry in the world, having acquaintances and working contacts with colleagues around the world, including the most famous world-famous specialists, I began to understand the boundlessness and diversity of dentistry.
If we talk about non-substitutable concepts of cost, then despite the fact that we work with high-quality foreign colleagues with the traditions and technologies of high dentistry, the cost of treatment in our studio is at least 30% less than abroad. And if we are talking about large complex treatment plans, the difference is significant, to put it mildly.
Welcome to your consultation on the aesthetics of natural veneers! This is not aesthetics. This is something white on the teeth. Photos from the Internet:
What are the alternatives?
If for some reason lumineers are not suitable for you, you can consider classic veneers as an alternative: inexpensive composite veneers for single restorations, or made from pressed ceramic or zirconium. Both of the latter options have a fairly long service life, and in some situations they can be installed without grinding off the enamel. At the same time, their price is much lower.
1 Yudina N.A. Systematization of microprostheses of the anterior group of teeth and justification for the choice of aesthetic design: veneers, laminates, ultraneers, lumineers or composites. Modern dentistry, 2012. 2 According to the website russian-lumineers.ru
Pros and cons of installing veneers
Veneers can eliminate dental defects, however, they have their positive and negative sides.
The advantages include the following:
- With the help of veneers, you can correct quite severe deficiencies: crooked teeth, enlarged interdental spaces, severe chips.
- correction of the color of teeth if they are pigmented or have an unattractive yellow tint from nature.
The disadvantages of using veneers include grinding off the upper layers of enamel, which entails increased tooth sensitivity. In addition, installing veneers is an irreversible process. After the expiration of the period of use, it is necessary to order new implants.
Contraindications for installing veneers
There are not many contraindications to installing veneers. One of them is installation up to sixteen to eighteen years of age. At this age, the formation of the bite, enamel and teeth is still underway.
Another contraindication is teeth that are too damaged. In this case, there is simply no need to attach a microprosthesis. Here you will have to install an all-ceramic crown. However, if the teeth have been damaged by cervical caries and then restored and filled with aesthetic restoration, then they can be covered with veneers.
Each case is individual and the question of what to choose for correction: veneers or lumineers is decided by the doctor together with the patient.
