How Much Do Lumineers Cost in NYC?

At DDS Group, we’re proud to offer our patients Lumineers for a dramatic smile makeover. While Lumineers are similar to veneers in many ways, there are some key differences that are worth noting. We’ll start by answering one of the most frequently asked questions we hear about this innovative cosmetic dental procedure: how much do Lumineers cost in NYC?

Lumineers can cost anywhere between $800 and $2000 per tooth in NYC. Why such a big range? There are a lot of factors involved in the pricing, including the amount of work needed and the size of the Lumineers. As a cosmetic dentistry treatment, Lumineers are not covered by dental insurance plans. During your consultation appointment at our office, we will provide you with a cost estimate so you can know exactly what to expect.

Lumineers allow you to transform your smile quickly and painlessly. Like traditional veneers, Lumineers are thin “shells” that are designed to fit just over your natural teeth. Also called no-prep veneers, Lumineers are made with ultra thin laminate instead of porcelain. This gives them a translucent appearance and smooth feel that is very similar to your natural teeth. The thinness of Lumineers allows your tooth enamel to show through, so they’re not as well-suited for correcting significant dental issues as porcelain veneers, but they can be used to correct a variety of minor cosmetic imperfections.

Lumineers are custom made for your teeth and over one million Lumineers have been placed in the 30 years since they’ve been introduced.

Lumineers can correct many of the same issues that veneers correct. As mentioned above, they are thinner and more translucent than porcelain veneers, which means they’re not suitable for every patient. During your consultation, we’ll let you know if Lumineers are the best fit for your treatment goals or if there are other options you should consider. Lumineers can be used to correct:

• Teeth that are yellowed or stained
• Chipped teeth
• Spacing issues, including gaps between teeth
• Minor tooth misalignment
• Reshaping small or misshapen teeth
• Old dental work that is showing its age, including crowns and bridges

Lumineers are used for issues both significant and minor; they’re often used by actors and celebrities who have healthy teeth, but need a show-stopping smile for the cameras. If you’re browsing through one of your favorite celebrity weeklies in line at the grocery store and you notice that a star has gotten a dramatic smile makeover, it’s probably thanks to Lumineers.

The overall concept of Lumineers and veneers is the same, as are the cosmetic imperfections they correct. Here are some differences between veneers and Lumineers to consider when choosing between the two:

• Veneers last an average of 8 to 10 years, although some may last up to 20 years. When veneers crack, you’ll need to replace them with new veneers.
• Lumineers can last anywhere between 10 and 20 years, but because enamel isn’t removed from your teeth in order to apply them, if your Lumineers come off or need to be removed, you don’t have to replace them because your teeth aren’t damaged.
• Lumineers are more affordable than veneers.
• Veneers are more opaque than Lumineers, making them better for hiding significant cosmetic problems.
• Veneers are made of porcelain, while Lumineers are made of laminate.
• The process of getting Lumineers is faster and easier; you won’t need temporary veneers.
• Lumineers are 0.3mm thick, while traditional porcelain veneers are 0.5mm thick. This may not seem like a significant difference, but it means the size of your tooth does not need to be reduced in order for Lumineers to fit.

Like porcelain veneers, Lumineers usually involve an appointment for an initial consultation to make sure they’re a good fit for your dental needs, and then they require two additional visits to the dentist after that. With Lumineers, these visits are shorter and easier than with traditional porcelain veneers.

During your first appointment, we take impressions of your upper and lower teeth in order to send them to the Lumineers laboratory. We also send photos and other records to help the dental technicians at the lab fabricate the perfect Lumineers for your smile. Because Lumineers are no prep, you won’t need to have enamel shaved off of your teeth and you won’t need cumbersome temporary veneers to protect your teeth while you wait for your veneers to be fabricated.

In a few weeks, we’ll receive your Lumineers from the authorized Lumineers laboratory. Before affixing them to your teeth, we’ll let you try them on to make sure they feel good and look exactly how you want them to. Your teeth are etched—just a bit, and not in a way that causes permanent damage—and then one by one, your Lumineers are bonded to your teeth. We’ll check your bite to make sure your Lumineers won’t chip when you eat and if everything looks good, you’ll leave our office and be on your way to enjoying your beautiful new smile.

The Lumineers procedure is pain-free and there is no discomfort or sensitivity afterwards. You can go back to school, work, and your daily activities right away.

You’ll be happy to hear that Lumineers last just as long as veneers, and in some cases, even longer. Lumineers are resistant to wear, resilient, and durable. With proper care, they can last up to or even over 20 years. As with any other cosmetic dental treatment, maintenance is key. Visit your dentist every six months and be diligent with your home oral hygiene practices in order to maximize the lifespan of your Lumineers.

If you’ve had other dental work become yellowed or discolored over the years, you may wonder if Lumineers will start to become discolored after a decade or two of use. Rest assured, Lumineers are resistant to stains. That said, because Lumineers are translucent, stains and discoloration on the surface of your teeth may show through your Lumineers. If this is a concern, you may want to consider cosmetic bonding or traditional porcelain veneers as an alternative.

Because Lumineers are thinner than traditional porcelain dental veneers, tooth reduction isn’t necessary in order to place them. Lumineers are semi-permanent, meaning they can be removed with minimal damage to your teeth. In order for the Lumineers to be bonded to your teeth, you will need them to be etched first, but etching is not the same as the enamel removal required to attach porcelain veneers.

With porcelain veneers, if you decide you’re unhappy with them, you’ll need to get another set of veneers—there’s no going back once you’ve decided to get veneers. Lumineers, on the other hand, can be removed and don’t require replacement. The teeth under your Lumineers are still healthy and strong.

Lumineers are right for most patients who have minor aesthetic issues that they want to correct. Like any other cosmetic dental treatment, Lumineers are not recommended if you have active gum disease or other significant dental health issues; these issues will need to be resolved before you pursue any cosmetic dental treatment.

During your consultation with us, we’ll assess your teeth, go over your dental records, and listen to your goals for treatment. We will present you with all the different options that may be a fit for your needs; if we don’t feel that Lumineers will serve you well, we’ll be upfront with you. Some alternatives to Lumineers include teeth whitening or microabrasion for yellowing and stains, Invisalign to straighten crooked teeth, and traditional porcelain veneers or cosmetic bonding to correct chips, gaps, discoloration, and other damage and aesthetic imperfections.

Taking care of your Lumineers is as easy as taking care of your natural teeth. Brush for two minutes twice a day and floss at least once a day. Every six months, make an appointment to see your dentist for a comprehensive oral exam and dental cleaning. With good oral hygiene, your Lumineers will continue to look great and you can expect them to last many years.

You can absolutely eat anything you like while wearing Lumineers. They are securely bonded to your teeth, so gum, caramels, hard nuts, corn-on-the-cob, and all of your other favorite foods are perfectly fine to eat.

DDS Group provides Lumineers in NYC. Both of our cosmetic dentistry specialists, Dr. Lisa Handler and Dr. Stuart Schreiber, are certified in Lumineers, which means they have the advanced knowledge needed to ensure that your smile looks perfect once your treatment is complete. To learn more, contact us at 212-269-6655 to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors.