"I believe there is an ideal proportion to teeth in the most naturally beautiful smile," says David Nusblatt, a dentist in Manhattan who often uses Lumineers to perfect his patients' smiles.
Dentists such as Nusblatt are increasingly adopting Lumineers as the procedure of choice over traditional veneers. Lumineers, made from patented Cerinate porcelain, are painless and minimally invasive. The procedure, which requires only two visits to the dentist, requires no anesthetic or numbing shots.
Unlike Lumineers, traditional veneers involve drilling or grinding of the teeth - often down to the nubs. Patients require an anesthetic for the process and painkillers for recovery. Because the sensitive tooth structure is destroyed, the process is irreversible.
"Lumineers allows me to create a smile that is balanced and perfect for every unique face in the most minimally invasive way," Nusblatt said.
Contact lens-thin, yet strong, Lumineers are proven to last up to 20 years. In most cases, the original teeth are left intact, making the procedure completely reversible.
"I have gone through life very self-conscious about my teeth and my smile," said Ben Ferrari of Nipomo, Calif. "From an early age I had an extremely large gap. With Lumineers I had an instant, beautiful smile. I was very amazed with the results, and to top it off, the procedure took only 40 minutes."
Lumineers, named one of Dental Products Report's list of "Top 10 Products," can be used over crowns and on worn teeth to prevent further wear. In some cases, they also can be a convenient substitute for braces.
