Beauty is pain—or so the old saying goes, but is it true when it comes to your teeth? Do you have to experience discomfort to achieve beautiful results? It depends! Being fully informed about treatment can help you make the best decision about what is right for your smile. Many patients ask, for example, if veneers can make your teeth sensitive and why. Are you doomed with sensitivity if you choose veneers? Find out the answers in the information below.
Will My Teeth Feel Sensitive After Veneers?
It’s possible! Not everyone experiences some sensitivity following the placement of temporary veneers, but knowing it could happen is valuable. That way, if it does occur, you aren’t taken by surprise or alarmed. Thankfully, it’s usually just as temporary as the placeholders for your custom veneers. Within a few days of the final products being put on your teeth, you shouldn’t feel discomfort anymore.
What Could Make My Teeth Feel Sensitive After Veneers?
During the veneer preparation process, your dentist will shave off about 5 mm of enamel. This is as thin as tissue paper, and this step allows the veneer to be bonded into place without sticking out unnaturally. In other words, these veneers make up for the space you’ve lost in the enamel removal.
While your teeth are prepped for impressions, your mouth will be numb with a local anesthetic, which will prevent you from feeling any pain during the procedure. If necessary, you can also receive sedation to keep you calm and give you even more pain relief. When you have your custom veneers put on, you will not need anesthesia because all your dentist will do is bond the new ones onto your teeth.
How Can I Prevent Tooth Sensitivity After Veneers?
In the few weeks you must wear the temporary veneers, you may deal with sensitivity, especially as you eat or drink cold, hot, or sugary substances. However, you can do a few things to help you get through. First of all, you can try to skip these types of beverages and foods temporarily, but when you do have a cold or hot drink, you can use a straw to bypass your teeth. In addition, you must continue to brush and floss your teeth every day to prevent bacteria from accessing your vulnerable teeth. For a while, you can rinse with a fluoride mouthwash, which is a mineral that reinforces enamel and reduces tooth sensitivity.
In the end, if you are willing to possibly endure a little sensitivity for a brief period of time, you can enjoy beautiful veneers for up to 20 years. A little patience and long-term perspective can help you overcome this short-lived inconvenience if it happens to you. Just keep your goal in mind and take all the proper steps, and you’ll be smiling confidently with your brilliant teeth soon!
About the Practice
At Amherst Dental Group in Williamsville, our four dentists have practiced dentistry for decades with experience in advanced technology and excellent patient care. When it comes to veneers, we take advantage of digital impressions, which means you don’t have to gag on putty-like traditional ones. Within seconds, this scanner collects measurements and data that allow the lab to fabricate precise veneers that fit only your unique smile. As a result, your veneers should feel natural and comfortable. Interested in getting veneers? Reach out to us online or by phone at 716-689-8882 today!