I understand that Dr. [name withheld] [ is a premier Lumineers dentist. His Instagram page is highly active and has thousands of followers, too. And it seems that some people travel to his office for Lumineers. I am researching Lumineers and other no-prep veneers because I do not want my teeth shaved down. I want to go with a brand that is known for preserving my tooth enamel. Do you mind checking the doctor’s credentials and letting me know if I can trust that he has enough cosmetic dentistry training to know how to give me Lumineers or other veneers without tooth prep? I would hate to travel five hours and be disappointed. Thank you, Karson from Georgia

Karson,

Unfortunately, we cannot find evidence on Dr. [name withheld]’s website or otherwise about his cosmetic dentistry training. We even checked for membership with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. If you want to pursue treatment with the dentist, you can call the office or schedule a consultation and ask for information about his post-graduate training in aesthetics. But we have insight to share with you.

Porcelain Veneers and Shaved Down Teeth

We are interested in your concerns that a dentist will shave your teeth down for porcelain veneers. When expert cosmetic dentists place veneers, they preserve as much tooth enamel as possible.  Shaving down teeth describes the dental crown process—not porcelain veneers.

About tooth preparation for porcelain veneers

• If your teeth require preparation a dentist will remove a fraction of a millimeter of tooth enamel
• From a conversational distance, people cannot tell your teeth are prepared
• Teeth are only prepared to prevent your veneers from looking bulky and to produce natural-looking results

Results with No-Prep Veneers

Sometimes conversative preparation will prevent bulky looking veneers. Lumineers are known for looking pasty and bulky. An expert cosmetic dentist will explain the result you can expect with or without preparation.

Rather than choosing a brand of veneers, look for an experienced cosmetic dentist. Schedule a consultation with one or two cosmetic dentists and discuss your options.

Dr. Duane Delaune, a cosmetic dentist in Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post.