Nicky Wire

We all like to look good, we get our hair done on a regular basis, our nails polished and manicured and our skin toned up, but what about a smile makeover? This is the latest trend to hit the fashion statement market, and a whole industry has grown up around it. Hollywood movie stars, talent show judges and pop idols all have great smiles and now we are demanding the same, at an affordable price. The good news is that the industry has responded positively and the choices are many fold. Let’s look at the latest innovation in veneers, they are called Lumineer’s and are so good that a lot of the traditional preparation work needed to fit a veneer, is now not necessary. Likened to a contact lens for their ultra slim line look, the Lumineer is a revolution in the making. Traditional veneers are made from ceramic clay, and they are tough wearing, they have to be fitted by blending them into the tooth itself, this requires the shaving off of a lot of tooth enamel which is irreplaceable. When they wear out or become chipped, cracked or discoloured, then they have to be replaced by a new veneer. Their life span is anything from 3-15 years depending on their thickness and how well you care for them. With the Lumineer a lot of that is now out the window. They are made in the usual way by taking a mould of your teeth and some digital photos, and then when it is ready to be fitted your dentist will call you back. They will need to do a slight roughing on the tooth, this is so slight they won`t even need to numb it, then the Lumineer is glued on and the veneer is cure dried to make sure of a permanent adhesion. They are expected to last up to 20 years and if any time you decide to not have the veneer on your tooth, you can simply have it removed and expose your natural tooth, with a traditional veneer you have to have the veneer replaced as it takes the place of the natural enamel. A smile makeover is a real morale booster, and many people have reported a remarked improvement in their confidence. A Hollywood bright smile is a beautiful thing to flash at anyone, and it will certainly get you noticed, if not by an admirer then the boss at least.