Does getting veneers hurt?
The appointment itself is done under local anesthetic and most people find it uneventful. The part nobody warns you about is the few days afterwards, when prepared teeth are commonly sensitive to cold.
That sensitivity settles. Anyone who promises you a painless procedure is selling something, so treat that promise as information about the practice.
Local anesthetic
The teeth are numb. Most people describe the visit as long rather than painful.
A few days
Cold sensitivity while temporaries are on is normal and settles.
What the appointment is actually like
Long. That is the honest complaint. Preparing several front teeth and fitting temporaries takes a few hours, and what tires people out is holding their mouth open for it.
Numbness is worked up slowly rather than all at once. If you can feel anything sharp, say so and it gets topped up. There is no medal for tolerating it.
The week with temporaries
Prepared teeth have had enamel removed, so cold air and cold drinks reach closer to the nerve than they used to. Expect that. It is not a sign anything went wrong, and it goes away once the final porcelain is bonded on.
What is worth calling about: a temporary that comes loose, an edge that catches your tongue, or a bite that feels high on one tooth. All quick to fix, and all worse if left.
What makes it worse
- Grinding through it. If you clench, say so before the appointment.
- Untreated gum inflammation. Working near sore gums hurts more, so gums get treated first.
- Rushing the numbing to save fifteen minutes.
Written by Dr. Peter Bonifatto, DMD, a general dentist in Las Vegas whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative work. General information, not a diagnosis. What your own teeth need is decided at an exam, with x-rays.
Ask about your own teeth.
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