mynewsmile.com Archives - Naperville Cosmetic Dentist

Are Lumineers Bad for Your Teeth?

May 29, 2019 by writeradmin

I’ve been considering getting a smile makeover and have been doing some research. I am finally ready to jump forward and spoke to my dentist. He wants to place Lumineers which is why I’m writing to you. From what I can tell. Lumineers get very mixed reviews. Some people like them, some people hate them, and some say they destroyed their teeth. I was hoping to get porcelain veneers but my dentist seems pretty set on Lumineers. What’s the real scoop on these?

Cassie

Dear Cassie,

Lumineers are one brand of porcelain veneers

The first thing I want to make sure you know is that Lumineers are simply a brand of porcelain veneers. Think of it as the difference between brands of makeup. Some are matte. Some are glossy. Some are more pigmented. It’s the same with porcelain veneers. Different brands have different strengths.

The reason for the mixed reviews on the Lumineers brand is they are highly marketed, especially to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. They market them as no-prep veneers which makes dentists think they’ll be much easier to place. There are some problems with this though.

The Problems with Lumineers

First, there is no such thing as no-prep veneers. Even ultra-thin veneers require the teeth to be etched in preparation for the bonding. That etching is permanent. You will always need some type of covering on that tooth.

Second, the results are often bulky. With traditional porcelain veneers, a small amount of tooth structure is removed from the tooth so it doesn’t add extra bulk. Even with ultra-thin brands, though they remove maybe a millimeter less of structure, it’s important to remove it. Without that, the teeth are thicker than people are used to. Often, they look bulky and have been described as horse teeth. People have complained about having trouble talking.

The third problem with Lumineers is their lab. The DenMat company owns the brand and absolutely insists dentists use it. Unfortunately, their lab isn’t known for its skill and artistry. Expert cosmetic dentists prefer to use more skilled labs.

As I mentioned before they’re are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. Most of the time, they don’t yet have the skill to provide you with a beautiful smile. While everyone has to start somewhere, you don’t necessarily want them practicing on you. It can be okay, but first I’d make sure they will put them on with a temporary try in paste and let you have a good look at them. If you don’t love them, they should be willing to re-do them until you do.

If they won’t put that in writing, I’m going to suggest you see a different dentist. IF you want to find a great cosmetic dentist, look on the mynewsmile.com website. They pre-screen the dentists for both their technical knowledge and skill as well as their artistry.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Teeth Whitening and Invisalign Before Porcelain Veneers?

April 30, 2019 by writeradmin

I told my dentist I wanted to get a smile makeover and he told me he was recently certified to place porcelain veneers using Lumineers and would be happy to do them. However, he’s also suggesting two other procedures first. One is teeth whitening and the other is Invisalign for a slightly crooked tooth. I’m new at this, so didn’t know if this was standard operating procedure or if any of it was unnecessary. What are your thoughts?

Destiny

Dear Destiny,

I’m very glad you wrote because I believe I can save you some almost certain heartache. Let’s start with the procedures he’s suggesting. The teeth whitening is pretty standard. Once the veneers are placed, they can’t be whitened. Their color is set and permanent. The whiter your teeth are when they’re placed, the closer the match can be to your natural teeth.

However, one key with cosmetic dentistry is it is about what YOU, the patient, want their teeth to look like. For instance, if you’re not wanting white porcelain veneers, but just veneers which match your natural teeth, the teeth whitening isn’t necessary.

The issue with the Invisalign for the crooked tooth, is not standard procedure. In fact, it makes me seriously doubt your dentist has the skills to give you a smile makeover you’ll be proud of sharing.

When porcelain veneers are done correctly they make crooked teeth look straight. There is no need for an additional procedure such as Invisalign.

You Need a True Cosmetic Dentist

Another issue which informs me he’s not a skilled cosmetic dentist is the fact he’s pushing Lumineers. This brand is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place.

This is because the seminar stresses no-prep application. Without tooth preparation, the results are often bulky looking, which is one of the chief complaints which Lumineers wearers have expressed. In fact, I saw one reviewer describe them as horse teeth.

This is also why he’s suggesting Invisalign. He doesn’t know how to do the tooth prep, which would be required with a crooked tooth.

In order for you to find a dentist who can give you a gorgeous smile. I’m going to suggest you go to the mynewsmile.com website. They have a link for patients to find a cosmetic dentist. The best part about this is they’ve already been screened for both their technical skill and artistry. If they’re on that list, they are great cosmetic dentists.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Lumineers Versus DuraThin

February 27, 2019 by writeradmin

I’m planning on getting a smile makeover but can’t seem to decide between DuraThin and Lumineers. I like the look of the Durathin better than the Lumineers, but didn’t know if there was a significant cost difference. I might be willing to swing my vote based on that.

Andy

Dear Andy,

Porcelain veneers being held up by a dental tool — It’s not the brand of porcelain veneers that’s important

I’m hoping to change the way you look at this for a moment. Cosmetic work is different than other types of branding purchases. Both Lumineers and DuraThin are just that– a brand.

Let’s pretend you’re buying your wife a perfume. You have two brands you both like and you prefer one over the other. It really wouldn’t matter what store you purchased the perfume. The brand would be the same at any store.

That’s not the case when it comes to porcelain veneers.

The “store” matters. It’s the skill of the dentist that makes the biggest difference in the results of your smile makeover. Plus, cost isn’t determined by the brand, rather by the skill of the dentist. The cost of the porcelain itself is about the same either way.

Two cosmetic dentists can work on the same patient with the same materials and one is going to be significantly better than the other depending on the artistic eye of the dentist.

If you’re going to choose between things, choose between dentists. They’ll know the subtle differences in the brands of porcelain and why one might work better for the look you’re going for.

Finding a Great Cosmetic Dentist

What you need to know is whether they’ve done significant cosmetic training since graduating dental school. Then you want to examine a good sampling of cases they’ve done which gives a good idea of their artistic ability.

You’ll also want to know that they’re willing to stand behind their work and not be satisfied or finished until you’re completely thrilled. It’s about the patient’s goals.

Not many patients have the time to do all of that. Fortunately, mynewsmile.com has done all the work for you. They’ve thoroughly vetted cosmetic dentists who want to be listed on their site for both technical skill and artistry. They cannot pay to be listed.

My recommendation to you is to go to their site and click on “find a cosmetic dentist”. You’ll be in great hands with anyone they recommend.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Worried I’m Getting Bad Advice from Dentist

December 29, 2018 by writeradmin

So, I’m in a tad of a quandary. I’ve had tetracycline stains for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been embarrassed by my smile as a result. I’ve been saving for years to do something about it. I FINALLY have what I think is enough. I went to visit my family dentist about it. We’ve known him for years and he’s a reputable dentist. He’s suggesting six porcelain crowns. I don’t know why, but have this niggling feeling this is the wrong way to go. I think it may be that I’m not crazy about the idea of having crowns. My teeth are healthy. Am I overreacting and this is the right direction to go?

Lydia

Dear Lydia,

Your gut feeling is right. Your dentist probably has the best of intentions on helping you, but I don’t think he realizes the complicated nature of covering tetracycline stains. I don’t think he’s the best dentist to help you. There are two things he’s suggested that confirm this to me.

Mistake Number One

The best cosmetic fix for teeth is to have porcelain veneers done. These are thin wafers of porcelain which fit over the front of your teeth and “hug” the sides. They can completely remake your smile, changing the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneously.

Your dentist is suggesting dental crowns. As you noted, this grinds down healthy tooth structure. You’ll be stuck with dental crowns for the remainder of your life. There’s no reason for him to suggest this if your teeth don’t already have crowns on them or are not in need of crowns. He’s only suggesting it because that is the procedure he’s comfortable with.

Msitake Number Two

He’s suggesting six crowns. This is a common mistake with general dentists. In dental school they’re taught to think in terms of anterior/posterior teeth. The front six teeth are considered “front” teeth, everything else are considered back teeth.

Instead, cosmetic dentists are taught to think in terms of the “aesthetic zone”. Most smiles are much wider than six teeth, as you can see in the picture above. This woman had her “smile makeover” done by someone who didn’t truly understand the aesthetics of cosmetic dentistry. As a result, you can tell the six front teeth are dental crowns. It’s obvious her smile is fake. I doubt that was the look she was going for.

The Best Dentist for Tetracycline Stains

Tetracycline stains are one of the most challenging cosmetic procedures. You need the veneers to be opaque enough to cover they grayish color, but not so opaque it doesn’t reflect natural light and look fake. It will take an expert cosmetic dentist. If I knew where you lived I’d recommend someone to you. Fortunately, there’s a site I’m going to recommend.

Mynewsmile.com screened cosmetic dentists who want to be listed for both technical skills as well as artistry. Anyone listed on their site is capable of giving you a beautiful smile.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Lumineers or Another Brand?

November 10, 2018 by writeradmin

I really wanted to get Lumineers. I love the smiles I see in their advertisements. Yet, when I do research on them the reviews are quite mixed. I can’t decide if they are the right brand to get or not. I like the idea of the no prep part. It sounds like it would be better for my teeth. I just don’t want to make a mistake. Any advice?

LeeAnne

Dear LeeAnne,

You are sort of on the right track here, but you’re asking the wrong question. Lumineers are highly marketed, but not just to potential patients. They are marketed even more to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. They tell the dentists they’re easy to place because they can be placed with no tooth preparation.

However, that doesn’t always work out best for the patient. No matter how thin something is, you are still adding it to your teeth. Even a millimeter or two will add bulk to your teeth. Depending on your teeth this could end up looking quite bulky. Some disappointed patients have even described them as having horse teeth. Minimal tooth preparation can prevent that.

Question the Dentist Not the Lumineers

The more important question is who should design your smile makeover, not which brand you should use. Look at it this way. If you hire two artists to do a portrait of the same woman, will they both end up looking exactly the same? Of course not! Each artist has their own style and, quite frankly, one of them is likely more skilled than the other.

A great dentist can take any brand and make it beautiful. They just have the training and skills to make beauty. That being said, Lumineers has one big problem— its lab. The DenMat Company, which owns the brand, requires dentists to use their lab. Unfortunately, their lab is known for sub-par work. It is always better if a dentist can pick the ceramist they want to work with. They know their strengths and weaknesses and will know which one will give better results.

Finding the Right Dentist to do Your Smile Makeover

There are many brands of porcelain veneers, all with different strengths. A skilled cosmetic dentist knows them well. You want that cosmetic dentist. They’ve done significant post-doctoral studies in dental aesthetics. Not only that, but you’ll want them to have an artistic eye with their work as well. It’s nearly impossible for a patient to do all that research.

Fortunately, you don’t have to. There is a website called mynewsmile.com. They’ve thoroughly vetted any dentist who wants to be listed on their site. They have to demonstrate both technical skill and an artistic eye. They can’t just pay to get on the site.

If you’re looking for a stunning smile makeover, I’d go with one of their recommended dentists. They’ll go over what type of smile design you want, give recommendations based on your facial structure, etc. Then get to work. Trust them to pick the brand.

I hope this helps with your conundrum.
This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Traditional Versus Ultra-Thin Porcelain Veneers

November 5, 2018 by writeradmin

I’m looking at getting porcelain veneers but I can’t figure out whether to get the traditional or the ultra-thin types. There’s so much conflicting information from the dentists I’ve consulted with. I’m hoping you can give me an unbiased opinion because I live in a different area of the country and you can’t make money off of me. Haha.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

I’d like to think I’m the type of person who would give you an honest, unbiased opinion even if you were a potential (or current) patient. You are right that there are a variety of opinions on these choices. The reason for that is the different levels of cosmetic experience and expertise between dentists.

For instance, a child may tell you the best medium for drawing is a crayon. A teenager might say a pencil or colored pencils, and an artist might say charcoal or ink. That’s because they’re all at different levels with that particular art form.

That being said, a true artist could get beautiful results with any medium. That’s the key. Not the type of porcelain veneer, but who places them. However, that’s not what you asked. So, first, let’s talk about the main differences between the two types and then I’ll tell you how to find the right dentist.

The ultra-thin veneers are (obviously) thinner. This often means that less tooth structure has to be removed in order to place them. However, to put this in perspective, a traditional porcelain veneer is only a few millimeters thick about 1/2 the depth of a dime.

One heavily marketed brand of ultra-thin veneers, Lumineers, claims theirs are so thin they don’t require any tooth preparation. This is rarely true though without the results looking bulkier than patients want.

Which you use really depends more on the look you want along with the type of teeth you currently have. An expert cosmetic dentist knows which brands have which strengths and how they’ll effect the smile makeover you want.

Finding a Expert Cosmetic Dentist to Design Your Porcelain Veneers

You want a dentist who has invested in significant cosmetic dentistry training, all of which has to be done on a post-doctoral level. Additionally, they need to have quite a bit of experience so they know how theory works out in reality. Those two requirements are pretty quantifiable.

The toughest trait is an artistic eye. They have that special something. Think about two artists doing a painting or a sculpture. Invariably, one artist will just have more skill than the other. This is hard to quantify so you need to get a look at the results of their work.

As you can imagine, spending time researching the education and artistry of a dentist is quite time-consuming. That’s why I often recommend patients go to the mynewsmile.com website to find their cosmetic dentist.

When a dentist requests to be listed on their site, they do all the research for you. They will only list dentists with exceptional training, skill, and artistry.

Any dentist on their list will give you a stunning smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

New Lumineers over Old

September 17, 2018 by writeradmin

I’ve had my lumineers for about 5 years. They’re okay but not as white as I wanted them. At the time, my dentist said that’s as white as they get. To me, they look dingy especially compared to other smile makeovers I’m seeing out there. I’m thinking about having him put new lumineers over them because it seems like you can get whiter now. However, my friend (who’s makeover is very white) said she got porcelain veneers. If I can’t get a whiter lumineers, can I put porcelain veneers over lumineers?

Shea S.

Dear Shea,

Before I answer your question, I want to clear up a misconception. Lumineers is simply a brand of porcelain veneers. Your problem wasn’t the brand but the dentist who provided your smile makeover. He obviously doesn’t understand cosmetic dentistry. First, your original Lumineers were able to be made as white as you wanted them, even five years ago. Even ten years ago. The lab follows the instructions of the dentist. Though, admittedly, the Lumineers lab (DenMat) has a bad reputation when it comes to quality and one of the reasons many expert cosmetic dentists will avoid the brand.

As for your question about placing Lumineers on top of Lumineers, the answer is you can but won’t want to. Here’s why.

First, it’s just as easy to do the case completely over from scratch than it is to put new veneers over old ones. Therefore, you won’t save any money doing it that way as opposed to getting it done over.

Second, it will be less secure. The bonding does better on natural tooth structure than it does on porcelain. Plus, now you’ve doubled your chances of bonding failures. You’ve got the bonding failure possibility from the original as well as the now greater possibility with the less reliable bond.

Finally, the margin. Putting one atop another increases the risk of staining and picking up things which can get trapped and increase bacteria leading to decay.

Those three things would lead me to suggest you simply have your smile makeover redone. More importantly, have it redone by a different dentist. You could get a refund based on the fact that he lied to you and told you the color was unavailable, which it most certainly wasn’t.

Who Should Do Your Smile Makeover

You want an expert cosmetic dentist to do your new porcelain veneers. I don’t know what area of the country you’re in so can’t give you a specific recommendation. However, the mynewsmile.com website has a link to find a cosmetic dentist.

The best part of this is they screen them ahead of time. Dentists hoping to be listed have to prove both they’re technical knowledge as well as their artistic skill. There’s no way for them to just pay and be listed. The site takes their reputation seriously and only lists the best of cosmetic dentists. Anyone there will give you a gorgeous smile. You’ll just input your zip code as well as how far you’re willing to travel and they’ll give you a list of qualified cosmetic dentists in that radius.

Best of luck with your new smile.
This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Can a Cosmetic Dentist Match One Crown?

September 10, 2018 by writeradmin

I had crowns done many years ago on all my teeth. One of them felt loose last week so I scheduled an appointment with a new cosmetic dentist. He told me the crown needed to be replaced. That didn’t surprise me given its age. What did surprise me was he said I’d need to replace all of them in order for them to match. I was shocked to think he couldn’t just match the crown to the rest of them. Will I truly need to replace all of them?

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

Left: porcelain crown; Right: porcelain veneer

A true cosmetic dentist can match anything.

There are cosmetic dentists and then there are cosmetic dentists. Confused yet? Because there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. That doesn’t mean they’re actually skilled and artistic.

A truly skilled dentist could match a single crown or a single porcelain veneer to the rest of your smile. They wouldn’t have to place them on all your teeth in order to get a uniform smile.

You can have just this one porcelain crown replaced. However, you will not be able to replace it with this particular dentist. As I see it, you have two choices.

Your first option is to stay with this dentist and replace every crown. They’re aging and will eventually need replacing anyway. It may be easier for you just to do them all at once instead of having to schedule two appointments every time one of them fails. However, if that’s not what you desire, you have another option.

Instead, if you’re still happy with the appearance of the remaining crowns, you can just replace that one. The only downside to that is, as I said above, you’ll need to find a better cosmetic dentist for that to work.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

There is a cosmetic dentistry website which screens cosmetic dentists who wish to be listed on the site to see if they’re skilled and artistic enough to create a stunning smile for their patients. They do this by having the dentist provide a list of their post-doctoral training in cosmetic work, as well as having them provide a large sampling of cases they’ve personally done, in order to verify their artistic skill.

Any dentist on their list will be skilled enough to offer you a single crown or a total smile makeover. Either will be stunning.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

To Lumineers or Not to Lumineers?

June 15, 2018 by writeradmin

I’ve gotten two smile makeover recommendations from two different dentists. I’m hoping you can break the tie. I live in another city so I know you won’t be swayed to try to get my business. The first dentist said I was a good candidate and recommended I do porcelain veneers. The second dentist also said I was a good candidate but suggested I do Lumineers. He said they’re better because you don’t have to grind your teeth for them. Which would you recommend??

Betsy

Dear Betsy,

I’m going to muddle the issue. I think you’re asking the wrong question. But, before I give you the question you should actually be asking I want to clear up a couple of common misconceptions. First, Lumineers are porcelain veneers. They’re just a brand of ultra-thin porcelain veneers. They’re not even the only brand of ultra-thin veneers. Most people know about them because they’re so highly advertised.

Second, when it comes to any brand of porcelain veneers, your teeth won’t have to be ground down. That’s what happens when you get a dental crown. With many brands of veneers, you simply have some mild shaving done so the teeth won’t look bulky. The amount of tooth structure removed amounts to about the depth of your fingernail.

The Question You Should be Asking

Instead of which brand should you get, you should ask about how to find the right dentist. The reason for that is you can have two dentists do the exact same smile makeover with the exact same brand and the smiles will turn out differently. Each dentist has a different level of technical skill and artistry. You want an artist who can give you a gorgeous smile no matter which brand you choose.

Picking the right dentist has become simpler in recent years. One reason for that is the mynewsmile.com website. If a dentist asks to be listed on their site as a cosmetic dentist, they don’t just list them. Before they can be added they have to demonstrate they have the training, technical knowledge, and artistry to be considered an expert cosmetic dentist.

As far as training goes, dental school isn’t enough. They’ll have to have spent many hours in post-graduate training specifically related to cosmetic work.

So, my advice to you is to go on the mynewsmile.com website and look up expert cosmetic dentists in your area. Then, let the dentist pick the brand he thinks will work best with your particular smile goal.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.

Bleeding Gums with Porcelain Veneers

May 31, 2018 by writeradmin

I’ve been excited about my porcelain veneers. They’re much more elegant looking than my natural teeth. My husband says it’s given me confidence. I’m a little worried though. Recently, when I brush there’s been some red on my toothbrush. I went in for my first checkup since getting the veneers and they said I’ve developed gum disease and have to do much better brushing and flossing. I’ve always had good oral hygiene and haven’t changed anything. Is this normal with porcelain veneers? Am I supposed to brush differently with them?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

No. This isn’t normal at all. You should be able to brush and floss just like you always have if your porcelain veneers are properly placed. I’d like you to look at the very top of your veneers. It’s possible your dentist is a good family dentist but lacks expertise in certain cosmetic procedures. There could be bulky margins meaning the veneers don’t sit flush with your teeth creating a tiny shelf at the top. Bulky margins are a haven for bacteria leading to both decay and gum disease.

If you do have bulky margins, that’s a problem. They’ll need to be replaced. The good news is you can get them replaced for free! Your dentist did them wrong. I know you love your porcelain veneers and that’s a great thing. But, you’ll love them, even more, when they won’t cause you gum disease.

Go to your dentist and let him know what’s going on. If he has integrity, he’ll admit what he did and offer to make it right. If he’s not a man of integrity, don’t worry, there’s still a solution.

Getting Porcelain Veneers Done Right

The first thing I want you to do, if it’s financially feasible for you, is to get a water pic and try to get whatever is caught in the margins out. We don’t want your gum disease to progress. Advanced periodontitis can cause you to lose teeth.

Next, go see an expert cosmetic dentist. Finding one is easy. Look on the mynewsmile.com website. They have a link for locating great cosmetic dentists. You simply put in your zip code and how far you’re willing to travel. They’ll provide you with a list of dentists in that range.

Get a second opinion from the dentist on your veneers. If he or she agrees you have bulky margins, they can help you get them replaced.

Basically, you’ll have two choices.

1. Give your dentist another chance to make them correctly. We all start out without being experts and need practice and experience. But, if he had trouble admitting his mistake I would be hesitant to let him try again.

2. Get a full refund from your dentist and apply that to having an artistic cosmetic dentist re-do your case.

This blog is brought to you by Naperville Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.