If your teeth are stained, cracked, chipped, or misaligned, these things may make you feel less than confident in your smile. Fortunately, veneers can fix these issues to give you a more beautiful beam. A small amount of enamel is removed to prepare your teeth for veneers, so you may be wondering if this will lead to sensitive teeth. Read on to find out how the process works, the benefits of getting veneers, and if they’ll make your teeth more sensitive.
Will Veneers Lead to Increased Tooth Sensitivity?
Veneers are thin, porcelain shells that cover the entire front of a tooth. To ensure that they seamlessly blend with the rest of your smile and adhere properly to your teeth, your dentist will remove a thin layer of enamel. It’s normal to have some mild sensitivity in the treated teeth after the veneer procedure. This feeling can last anywhere from several days to a few weeks, but some patients experience little or no sensitivity. If your teeth still feel sensitive two months after you’ve had your veneers placed or you’re extremely uncomfortable, speak with your dentist as soon as possible so they can determine what the issue is.
How to Relieve Tooth Sensitivity
Since veneers cover the front surface of the teeth, they may actually help decrease tooth sensitivity by shielding your smile from irritants. Even so, if you experience increased sensitivity after treatment, you should work with your dentist to relieve your symptoms. Some ways to relieve sensitivity include:
- Desensitizing toothpaste – This lessens irritation by blocking the pain signals that travel between the surface of one’s teeth and the sensory nerves inside of them.
- Brush – Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth after each meal to lessen sensitivity.
- Salt water rinse – Salt works well as an antiseptic. It can also help to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain from sensitive teeth. Add half a teaspoon of table salt to a glass of lukewarm water and gargle with the mixture twice daily.
5 Benefits of Veneers
Now that you know what you can do about sensitive teeth after having veneers placed, why should you get them in the first place? A few of the most noteworthy benefits of veneers include:
- Correct cracks, stains, misalignments, chips, misshapen teeth, and small gaps
- Only require regular brushing, flossing, and biannual dental visits
- Color-matched to the rest of your smile.
- Make your smile look more uniform
- Offer natural, realistic results
If an imperfect smile is negatively impacting your confidence, consider speaking to your cosmetic dentist about having veneers placed. These durable porcelain shells may be just what you need to start loving your pearly whites!
About the Practice
Pleasant Valley Dentistry caters to patients of all ages in the Bettendorf area. If you’re unsatisfied with how your smile looks, they offer a range of cosmetic dental treatments, including porcelain veneers. If you’re dealing with sensitive teeth after the procedure, they can offer tips and tricks on how to lessen discomfort so you can start enjoying your new smile. Call Pleasant Valley Dentistry at (563) 332-7734 or visit their website to schedule an appointment or for more information on porcelain veneers.