La Jolla Lumineers

A beautiful smile can enrich your life. If you have been thinking about a smile makeover, you may have considered Lumineers treatment. La Jolla cosmetic dentist Dr. Moeckel is familiar with Lumineers. When consulting with patients about achieving radiant, lifelike results, she discusses her preferred method for no-prep veneer treatment.

Porcelain veneers can transform your smile, making it brighter, straighter, and more sculpted. These custom-fit, ultra-thin restorations are also durable enough to last for years with good care. They are used to disguise cracks and chips, to widen or lengthen teeth, to brighten the smile, to close gaps, and more. For personal reasons, many patients ask about Lumineers no-prep veneer treatment.

What are Lumineers?

Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers that can be made ultra-thin due to high-strength Cerinate ® porcelain. Their minimal thickness enables them to be bonded to teeth without the need for reduction, as is necessary with the traditional veneer process. Patients who may not be ready to commit to more permanent veneers may like the fact that, with Lumineers, it is not exceedingly difficult to uncover natural tooth material should removal be desired down the line. Because no reduction is necessary, the treatment process is also thought to be more comfortable than traditional veneers.

However, there are other brands of ultra-thin porcelain veneers, made with other brands of high-strength porcelain. Lumineers is merely the most recognized brand name because of the advertising done by the DenMat company that makes this porcelain. So which should you ask for, for your smile? Lumineers? Or one of the competing brands?

The main drawback of the Lumineers brand is that the DenMat company has placed a trademark restriction on its use. They require dentists to use their own dental laboratory. Some cosmetic dentists have criticized the Lumineers laboratory as producing smiles that are too monochromatic, not natural-looking, too opaque, and too bulky. Dr. Moeckel feels that you would be better off with her using her own master ceramist, who has produced many beautiful smiles.

Creative Smile Design

Dr. Moeckel begins cosmetic care with a thorough discussion about your expectations, right down to the tiniest detail. Her expertise is combined with your input in a computer simulation which presents your smile makeover. When you view your simulated smile, you can request any changes that you would like. Once you approve, provisional veneers will be made. They will only be placed into your mouth once Dr. Moeckel is satisfied with their appearance. Wearing your temporary veneers, you will have yet another opportunity to see changes you may like to request before your final restorations are made.

As a part of our Beautiful Smile Guarantee, Dr. Moeckel does not bond final veneers until they have met her very high standards, and yours. Learn more about no-prep veneers. Call (858)452-1504 or fill out our appointment request form here.