Are you feeling self-conscious about dental flaws, like chips, cracks, stubborn stains, or mild misalignments, that are detracting from your appearance? If you’re not one hundred percent pleased with the way your smile looks, your dentist can potentially boost your confidence by placing porcelain veneers to mask imperfections.
However, you might hesitate to undergo this treatment if you’re unsure what life is like with these restorations. Continue reading to learn more about veneers and what they feel like so you know what to expect!
What are Veneers?
This treatment involves cementing hard shells made from resilient ceramic over the fronts of your teeth to hide one or several aesthetic concerns. The durable material they’re made from reflects light like enamel and can be customized to be just the right size, hue, and shape to match your natural smile seamlessly. This is a popular way to address damaged enamel, slight overcrowding, misalignments, and dental discoloration that can’t be bleached.
These restorations are coated with a glaze durable enough to resist chipping and staining, and can last 15 to 20 or more years if cared for correctly. This makes them a popular long-term cosmetic investment.
Does Getting Veneers Hurt?
Many patients experience anxiety around dental visits, and being fitted with veneers is no exception. Your dentist must remove a small amount of enamel from the underlying teeth for them to fit correctly without looking overly bulky or throwing off your bite alignment. Although they’ll apply a local anesthetic to numb the area, you might develop temporary sensitivity after the medication wears off following this preparation.
Usually, this sensation can be safely reduced by taking over-the-counter medications, like Tylenol or ibuprofen. Then, once the final restorations are ready, the process of cementing them to your teeth is incredibly straightforward and usually doesn’t even require a topical numbing agent to complete.
What Do Veneers Feel Like?
Are you curious what veneers feel like once they’re cemented in place? These shells are incredibly thin, usually only about 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick, but it can still take your mouth a couple of weeks to adjust to their presence. You might develop mild aches or speech impediments, like a lisp, until your tongue and other tissues acclimate, but these usually fade on their own after a few days.
Then, because the porcelain material is designed to look and feel as lifelike as possible, you’ll likely feel so comfortable with your veneers that you forget they’re there. You can continue to keep them in great shape by brushing and flossing twice daily, and visiting your dentist every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning, just like with your natural teeth.
If you still feel unsure, contacting your dentist for a consultation is the best way to learn whether veneers are the right treatment to help you achieve your smile goals!
About the Practice
Patients at Dean Dental benefit from two dentists voted the Best of the Best from 2019 to 2024! Dr. Stacy and Dr. Jessica are both highly accomplished providers individually, and they collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services to meet all your needs under one roof, including veneers. Their compassionate approach and attention to detail combine with advanced technology to deliver comfortable, beautiful results intended to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (724) 204-5882.