Compared to other kinds of cosmetic dentistry, veneers are a bit more invasive. A dentist must alter your smile’s structure to place the shells successfully. With that said, you could easily fear that you’ll experience tooth sensitivity from your veneers. There’s no real need to worry, though; treatment won’t cause your teeth to experience any long-term aches or pains. If you need proof, here’s a primer on veneer placement, how it can cause temporary sensitivity, and ways to prevent such sensitivity.
Context: Veneers Remove Enamel
You can’t get veneers in one visit like you might with other cosmetic treatments. Before the shells can be placed, you have to attend a “prep” appointment that alters your teeth.
A dentist will do several things to prepare your teeth for veneers. Firstly, they’ll remove small bits of enamel from your smile to make room for the shells. They’ll then make impressions of the “prepped teeth” and send them to a dental lab; workers will craft the final restorations. You’ll wear temporary veneers for a few weeks while the lab finishes its work.
Only at the second visit will you get your “final” veneers. At that time, the dental team places your shells and makes last-minute changes to ensure they look (and feel) good.
Veneers Can Cause Temporary Sensitivity
Veneers can cause some temporary tooth sensitivity due to how they’re placed. However, this effect (when present) is very mild and fades quite quickly.
It boils down to the removed enamel. As the dentist scrapes off bits of this smile layer, they may expose some dentin – the layer of your grin that contains sensitive nerves. Since this region is often stimulated by hot and cold temperatures, it may send pain signals to your brain and cause minor aches.
Of course, any sensitivity you feel won’t be disruptive. Veneers eventually replace your lost enamel, so they protect you from hot and cold temperatures. That means treatment will end your sensitivity within a week or two of placement.
How Can You Prevent Post-Veneer Sensitivity?
If you’d prefer to avoid veneer-related sensitivity, you can take steps to prevent it. Just do the following:
- Watch What You Eat – Try not to eat very hot or cold dishes in the days after treatment. Examples include coffee, ice cream, etc.
- Take Pain Medicine – To manage post-treatment sensitivity, take over-the-counter pain medications.
- Do Saltwater Rinses – Rinsing your mouth with saltwater will reduce post-treatment swelling and balance your oral cavity’s pH levels.
Tooth sensitivity from veneers is rare, and it isn’t a big deal when it does occur. Still, don’t hesitate to use the tips above to keep your now-gorgeous grin pain-free!
About the Practice
Daniel J. Passidomo, DMD Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is based in Centerville, OH. Led by namesake dentist Dr. Passidomo, our practice delivers effective, friendly, and personalized dental care to every patient. We offer everything from simple dental checkups to complex dental implants, with treatment results tailored to your needs. As such, you and your family can trust us to help your grins thrive! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (937)-886-9935.