• Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry - West Des Moines

Iowa Center for Family and Cosmetic Dentistry –  West Des Moines
  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Des Moines Holistic Dentist
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blog

Lumineers for a Tooth Gap??

June 2, 2021 by writeradmin

I have an 8 mm tooth gap. I went to see my dentist about a solution that didn’t include me wearing glasses. At first he suggested snap-on smile but I didn’t like how that looked. Now he is suggesting Lumineers. Is this a better solution for me? It’s much more expensive, so I am hoping the quality is better.

Phillip

Dear Phillip,

facial shot of woman smiling with gap between her teeth

I am glad you wrote. I think I can save you a lot of regret and grief. First, whatever you do, do not let your dentist do Lumineers on your teeth. My guess is, based on some things you have said, that your dentist may be a decent family dentist but he does not have any true expertise and artistry in cosmetic work. The fact that he first suggested Snap-on smile and then Lumineers for a tooth gap backs this up.

As for Lumineers, while it is a better quality solution than Snap-on Smile, it is an advanced cosmetic procedure that I do not feel he is up for. This is especially true given the size of your gap. That is a big enough gap to place a tooth inside. It would require one of the top cosmetic dentists in the country to make that look right.

Option One: Invisalign

Invisalign aligners

Given your situation, you have two good options. First, you can fix this with orthodontics. I know you mentioned you didn’t want braces. Has anyone talked to you about Invisalign? These use clear aligners instead of the metal wires and brackets that you’d get with braces. They have other benefits as well such as being more comfortable than braces, they work in half the time, and can even allow you to whiten your teeth at the same time as straightening them. This is because the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays.

Option Two: Porcelain Veneers

If you want to change more than just your tooth gap, then porcelain veneers would be the way to go. Veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneously. Lumineers, which your dentist suggested, is just one brand of porcelain veneers. However, that particular brand is highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. If you recall, I mentioned that with your tooth gap you would need one of the top cosmetic dentists in the country. If you decide to go this way, look for an AACD accredited cosmetic dentist. They will have the skills you need for this situation.

This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.

Filed Under: Invisalign Tagged With: AACD accredited denitst, Invisible braces, Lumineers, porcelain veneers, snap-on-smile, teeth whitening, tooth gap

Recent Posts

  • Switching Dentists After Invisalign
  • Zoom Whitening for Uneven Tooth Color?
  • Fixing a Gummy Smile
  • My New Crowns are Turning Yellow
  • A Fortune Wasted on My Smile Makeover

Categories

  • Best Des Moines Dentist
  • Cosmetic Dentist
  • Dental Bonding
  • Dental Emergency
  • Dental Implants
  • Emergency Dentist
  • Full-Mouth Reconstruction
  • Gum Contouring
  • Holistic Dentist
  • Invisalign
  • Porcelain Veneers
  • Teeth Whitening
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014

Contact Us

Iowa Center for
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
4100 University, Suite 105
West Des Moines, IA 50266
New Patients Call:
Office: 515-223-8800
URL of Map

Office Hours


Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm

Read Our Reviews


SEO by Infinity Dental Web


View Map and Get Directions
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Dr. Phelan Thomas
    • About the Staff
    • Request an Appointment
    • What Can I Expect My First Visit?
    • Financial Policies
    • Contact Us
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Smile Gallery
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Beautiful Smile Guarantee
    • Porcelain Crowns
    • All-Porcelain Bridges
    • Invisalign
    • Composite Bonding
    • Tooth Colored Fillings
    • Teeth Whitening
  • Implants
    • Dental Implants
    • Dentures
  • Technology
    • DIAGNOdent
    • Electrosurgery
    • Air Abrasion
    • Panorex Imaging
    • Computerized Anesthetic
    • Dental Implant Placement System
    • Diagnostic Wax-up Model
    • Smile Blueprint
    • Intraoral Camera
    • Digital Photography
    • Vizilite
  • Other Services
    • Endodontics
    • Periodontal Disease
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Emergency Dentist
    • Occlusion Therapy
    • Preventive Dentistry
    • Gum Tissue Sculpting
    • Mercury-Free Dentist
  • Make a Payment
  • New patients
    (877) 631-9967

  • Existing patients
    (515) 223-8800

©2000-2022 Phelan R. Thomas, DDS. • All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy