Despite the strides we have made in dentistry to make it more comfortable, people still often worry that dental procedures will hurt. For many people, this keeps them from getting the dental care they need or the cosmetic dentistry procedures they desire, like porcelain veneers.
The good news is that porcelain veneers involve little, if any discomfort during the placement process, and they are very comfortable to wear afterwards.
Preparing for Porcelain Veneers
There are two ways of doing porcelain veneers. We offer prepless veneers, known as Lumineers, which bond directly to your teeth as they are. We also offer traditional veneers that involve removing some amount of dental enamel.
Obviously, there’s no discomfort involved in placing Lumineers.
Discomfort from placing traditional veneers is minimal. There is typically about half a millimeter (1/50th of an inch) of material removed, and this doesn’t typically cause discomfort. However, we also offer anesthesia, just as we do for even small fillings. Some people experience minor soreness after the preparation, but this is very short-term temporary and is controllable with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Temporary Veneers
For traditional veneers, you will typically wear temporary veneers while your permanent veneers are being manufactured. Although these look attractive, they do not insulate your teeth as well as permanent veneers, and people sometimes experience sensitivity to pressure, heat, and, especially cold beverages.
Using a straw for cold drinks can make a big difference in reducing your experience of sensitivity.
Comfortable to Wear
Once you receive your final veneers, there should be no discomfort. Your final veneers should protect your teeth against sensitivity, and unless you’re looking in a mirror or seeing the positive reaction others have to your smile, you’ll not notice that you have them.
To make sure you get comfortable porcelain veneers, it’s a good idea to work with a neuromuscular dentist who can gauge the proper height for porcelain veneers so your jaw sits at its maximum rest position. Otherwise, you might experience jaw soreness, TMJ, or damage to your veneers.
Want to learn more about the porcelain veneers experience? Please call (610) 272-0828 for an appointment with a Philadelphia cosmetic dentist at Dental Excellence of Blue Bell.
