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About Howard Finnk, D.D.S.
Expertise
I am a Family and Cosmetic dentist. I will answer questions on any aspect of dentistry and matters relating to the smile, gums, jaws and lower face. Member American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, Broward County Dental Society, Atlantic Coast District Dental Association. I have served as District Council Member of Alpha Omega, as well as serving for one term as its President. I am also a member of The Academy of General Dentistry, Vedder Honors Society, Broward Dental Research Clinic, Mount Sinai Hospital Guild. I have served as a Volunteer for Project Dental Health and The Tri-County Dental Health Council.

Experience
After having attained over 30 years of clinical experience in private practice in Michigan, in 2001 I was re-certified by taking and passing the Florida State Dental Board Examination. In addition, I am now a member of the Florida Dental Association, Broward County Dental Association, and the Atlantic Coast District Dental Society. In September, 2004, I was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor at Nova University's College of Dental Medicine. I am certified in placement of Mini Dental Implants, and I am Director of The Florida Implant Center. Over my lifetime career, I have provided thousands of diagnoses, fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, periodontal treatments, TMJ therapies, partials, dentures and extractions, and dozens of implants for my patients. The only aspect of dentistry with which I have very little experience is orthodontics.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Dentistry > Dentistry > Which are better and mroe durable- lumineers or traditional lumineers?

Dentistry - Which are better and mroe durable- lumineers or traditional lumineers?

Expert: Howard Finnk, D.D.S. - 11/6/2009

Question
QUESTION: I need to have one of these done 6 of them ont he top but have got mixed responses from dentists I went to. Was wondering frist off what is the difference of cost in these two? also Which are more durable. I like the concept of the lumineers better but have heard thye are herder to clean with and can cause gum problems? Also I hesrd the lumineers can look toothy because thre is a bump where the veneer meets the tooth. Is this true? i want to get the best ones although I prefer the lumineers int that they dont have to grind away any tooth structure but then I heard taking some of the tooth structure will be better for them to adhere so now Im confused. Please help with this confusion on which is the best option as i would liek to get lumineers or trad. veneers asap thank you

ANSWER: Dear Bob: Done properly by a dentist experienced with Lumineers, the Lumineers are the better choice. Traditional porcelain veneers, though beautiful, tend to be more fragile than Lumineers. Lumineers can be made thinner than porcelain veneers, so they require less enamel to be removed from your teeth before placement (usually some enamel must be removed). This preserves your tooth structure, making your teeth stronger and more decay resistant over time. They also tend to bond to the teeth better as a result. I know this sounds lika an ad for Lumineeers, but I have learned them and used them. They are now being recommended highly by CRA Journal, which is a Consumer Reports for dentists. And they should be about $100-$200 each more than traditional veneers. Good luck with whatever you choose. I'm sure you will love the result.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks. Thas exactly option I was leaning towards but is it true that lumineers willc ause a bump where the veneer meets your tooth? I read that somewhere. Alsowill they adhere ok even though there is no prep work? My dentist leaned me towards the veneers but I am leaning towards the lumineers. How do i sway him towards the lumineers?

Answer
Again, done properly, Lumineers will look beautiful. No bumps. But done properly means that the dentist makes a pre-operative study model to determine with his Lumineers technician, exactly where and how much enamel needs to be removed from your teeth. In this way, your dentist has an exact pattern of how much to remove from your enamel so that the Lumineers will not stick out and look like bumps. There likely will be some prep work, but it will be minimal. If your dentist resists Lumineers, find a dentist who has experience with them. You can contact Lumineers for a list of them in your area. dd

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