Lumineers are razor-thin ceramics plates, permanently glued onto your teeth. In contrast to traditional veneers, no dental substance needs to be removed – lumineers are as thin as a contact lens. As a result, pain and complications are excluded, and the main structures of your teeth will be conserved. Your smile not only becomes more beautiful, it is also a healthy smile.

No-prep technique – no grinding down is required

As thin and easy as a contact lens: lumineers

More concerning the topic: what are lumineers?

The regular tooth

Traditional veneers

Lumineers

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Please also read: Comparison of veneers and lumineers

The natural tooth

In natural teeth, the enamel protectively surrounds the sensitive dentin. Discoloured or damaged enamel is often perceived as aesthetically displeasing.

The current method using traditional veneers required the grinding down of the healthy tooth to up to 2 mm.

Treatment with traditional veneers

Because the thickness of veneers is 0.8 mm and more, the grinding down of healthy dental substance to up to 2 mm is unavoidable. Consequently, the restoration of the pre-treatment status is no longer possible – the dental substance is lost forever.

Lumineers offer excellent aesthetics without any pain and without the need to grind down healthy tooth substance.

Lumineers – the alternative

Constantly improved production and composite techniques now make it possible to produce razor-thin ceramics plates which are permanently adhered to the tooth. No grinding down of tooth substance is required. As a result, the treatment is completely painfree and the pre-treatment status can be restored any time. Even pre-existing crowns can be treated.

These days, the computer-aided production by means of the CAD/CAM technology represents the most professional way to produce tooth replacement: after having been ground down, a mould of the teeth to be treated is taken und a temporary prosthesis applied. A special model is then generated at the practice laboratory based on the moulds. A special scanner is used to scan the prepared model stumps of the teeth.

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A computer then digitalises the obtained information. These three-dimensional images are used by the ultra-modern zirconium oxide production equipment as precise template for the production of tooth replacement that is characterised by outstanding accuracy of fit, precise finish (without marginal gap) and aesthetic perfection.

For the production of bridges and crowns, we are sending the computer-generated data to the Nobel Biocare laboratory in Sweden. A super-precise grinding computer produces a ceramic crown or bridge from the zirconium oxide blank; the finished crown or bridge is delivered to our practice within two business days.

Inlays are produced at our own laboratory: our dental master technicians produce your inlay based on the obtained information. The shape and colour of the tooth are perfectly matched to your other teeth. Superior quality standards and short production times are our main priority – to ensure that you are treated efficiently, allowing you to chew, smile and talk properly again.

• in part major loss of own tooth substance associated with the grinding down needed to accommodate the increased space requirements for the metal-ceramics restoration
• the aesthetic appearance can be reduced due to exposed metal rims, especially after the long-term wear
• metal ions can be released into the tissue of the body, causing irritation and discoloration of the gums among other things.

However, these days the use of modern materials allows us to produce tooth replacement that can no longer be distinguished from natural teeth. As well, the durability of the tooth replacement can be improved significantly.

Zirconium oxide tooth replacement

In dentistry, zirconium oxide is used for the following applications among other things:

• crowns
• inlays in the frontal and lateral tooth area
• bridges

Zirconium oxide bridges

Brilliant aesthetics

With respect to the optical refraction, brilliance and stability, zirconium oxide strongly resembles the natural hard tooth substance. Light rays hitting the surface of the tooth are transmitted to the adjacent gums as a result of the optical refraction by the ceramic substance. This process makes the gum appear vital and healthy. The benefits of this aesthetic appearance are manly due to the fact that no metal is present which interferes with this optical refraction. Consequently, the tooth harmoniously blends in with the existing other teeth.

Good biocompatibility

Zirconium oxide is especially suitable for patients suffering from intolerances to certain materials and metal. From a dentist’s point of view, this type of metalfree treatment is ideal.
The benefits at a glance:

• harmless contents such as oxides of silicon, aluminium sodium and potassium
• very low solubility, high stability against acids
• low plaque accumulation tendency
• no interaction with other materials in the oral cavity
• no chemical decomposition with the formation of toxic decomposition products

In addition, zirconium oxide possesses very high heat insulation properties, allowing the wholehearted enjoyment of cold and hot food.

Tooth replacement with a future

Zirconium oxide ceramics are a tooth replacement with a future. In terms of function and aesthetic appearance, the material closely resembles the natural tooth substance, while perfectly harmonising with the human organism. The lasting treatment success depends on the competent advice, regular prophylaxis and sustained thorough care at the dental practice. If these conditions are met, the prospects for better health, quality of life and daily satisfaction are perfect.