I wanted a real celebrity smile, so I chose Lumineers for their brightness and because they are no-prep veneers. I thought they were the best way to get a smile that would get noticed. I got them in May and am somewhat disappointed. My teeth don’t look as great as I thought they would because they are slightly thick, and I speak with a lisp. I have returned to the dentist, and she made some adjustments, but I still have a lisp. Someone in the dental office implied it might take a while to adjust to speaking with the veneers, but I thought they were supposed to function like natural teeth. If that’s the case, why am I having such a problem with my speech? Maybe I would be happier if I could just get braces and have my teeth whitened. Can I remove the veneers and return to my natural teeth? Thanks. Lenny from Phoenix

Lenny,

Thank you for your questions.

Dentists often place Lumineers without preparing your natural teeth. It takes a lot of skill to place Lumineers without them looking or feeling too bulky. If your dentist placed your veneers without tooth preparation, she might need to remove a small amount of enamel to help them fit properly.

If your dentist has already adjusted your Lumineers, she may have difficulty fitting them or bonding them properly. Depending on the cause of your lisp, the adjustment may be as simple as preparing your teeth. Sometimes, the lab may need to remake your Lumineers to ensure they fit correctly.

We recommend getting a second opinion from a cosmetic dentist with experience placing porcelain veneers. Trained cosmetic dentists have the skill to adjust the veneers or your natural teeth, so you get beautiful results. If your dentist cannot achieve the right look and feel with your veneers, it might be best to have someone else examine them.

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