I have read some of your information about Lumineers, and other expert cosmetic dentists seem in alignment with your thoughts. My question is about 3N Veneers. I live in Europe and quite a few cosmetic dentists here say that 3N is better than Lumineers. What are your thoughts on them?
Marie
Dear Marie,
I’m glad you wrote. I want to redirect your line of thinking. While great that you are trying to do research before investing in your smile makeover, I think you are looking at the wrong thing. Let’s look at it from an art point of view, and cosmetic dentistry is definitely an art. If you were trying to commission a sculpture to be done, would you look into the brands of clay or marble the sculptors use or the artistry of the sculptor? My guess is the artistry of the sculptor. That is how you need to approach this.
Why? Because while 3N porcelain veneers could be better than Lumineers, that would completely depend on the skill and artistry of the dentist placing them. An expert cosmetic dentist could provide you with a stunning smile no matter what brand they used. An average cosmetic dentist will give you an average smile no matter how great the brand. Plus, each brand has different strengths and qualities. A dentist who does a lot of smile makeovers will know the pros and cons of each brand.
I would focus your attention in finding the best cosmetic dentist you can. I am going to recommend that you look for a dentist accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Accreditation with the AACD is different than just membership. These dentists have passed stringent exams and demonstrated their artistry before an examination board. They’re in the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists in the country.
One thing you can do to protect yourself is to make sure the dentist is willing to do a provisional try-in for your porcelain veneers. That means he or she will put them on with a temporary try-in paste. Then, you get to look at them in several different type of lightings. If you don’t absolutely love them, then your dentist should be willing to send them back to the lab as many times as is necessary to give you the beautiful result YOU want. They should not get permanently bonded until you are thrilled with them.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.