I have a tooth gap I want to fix. My dentist is suggesting Lumineers. I’ll do it if it is my only option but it is quite expensive. Can you give me a second opinion as to whether I have other options?

Susan

Dear Susan,

Please run away from your dentist as quickly as possible. This is a horrible suggestion to fix a tooth gap. Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers, which are used for complete smile makeovers. They’re also a bit pricey. You’re asking for a solution to a tooth gap.

The simple solution for that is dental bonding. It is much less expensive and will only affect the teeth you want to close the gap on. What your dentist is suggesting is a massive over treatment. So why would he do that?

My first guess is he doesn’t know how to do dental bonding. Truthfully, that wouldn’t surprise me at all based on the fact that for your porcelain veneers he is suggesting the Lumineers brand. These are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place.

They tell dentists that because they are an ultra-thin brand of porcelain veneers, leading the dentists to believe there will be no need to prepare the teeth the way many other brands of porcelain veneers require. Unfortunately, this often ends up looking bulky. Some patients have even described the results as horse teeth.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

If you were going to get a true smile makeover, then you would want a highly skilled cosmetic dentist, such as one who is AACD accredited. Let them pick the brand.

As for your tooth gap, again, you’ll want an expert cosmetic dentist. Dental bonding, the treatment I suggested, is done freehand and takes some serious expertise.

This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.