First Line Dental is a 42 North Dental Care, PLLC practice and is owned and operated by dentists Dr. Samuel Shames, DDM. and Dr. Ronald Weissman, DDM. First Line Dental is supported by 42 North Dental, LLC, a dental support organization that provides non-clinical administrative and business support services to the practice. 42 North Dental, LLC does not own or operate the dental practice or employ dentists to provide dental services. Find more information about 42NorthDental, LLC and the dental practices it supports at 42northdental.com.
Dentists often recommend porcelain veneers in Manchester for patients who wish to change the way their teeth look. Veneers can disguise a range of aesthetic flaws, from discoloration to cracks, chips, and even slight misalignment. However, some patients questions whether they should get veneers because the process of placing them requires the removal of a bit of tooth enamel. Will that make your teeth more sensitive? In this blog post, we discuss this important question.
Veneers and Dental Sensitivity
The amount of tooth enamel removed during the veneers treatment process is minimal. In fact, your dentist may remove as little as half a millimeter, which is about the thickness of a fingernail. This part of the process is necessary because it prevents the veneers from making your smile look bulky or unnatural.
The removal of the enamel can make your teeth more sensitive because enamel’s job is to protect the sensitive dentin underneath it. Dentin is the part of a tooth that contains tubules which connect to the tooth’s nerve. When the tubules are exposed to hot or cold temperatures, the nerve sends pain signals to the brain.
Fortunately, veneers replace your enamel. When your permanent veneers securely bonded onto your teeth, they will provide powerful protection against hot and cold temperatures. Any sensitivity you experience in the days following the placement of your veneers may just be due to the procedure itself, rather than your modified enamel. For most patients, the sensitivity wears off within a few days to a few weeks. Some even find that their teeth are ultimately less sensitive after receiving veneers than they were prior to the procedure.
Coping with Increased Sensitivity
Here are a few tips to help you cope with post-treatment sensitivity:
- Be choosy about what you eat and drink. Try to avoid very hot or very cold items, such as coffee or ice cream. You should also limit your consumption of acidic foods and beverages, like citrus fruits and soda.
- Take a mild pain reliever if necessary. An over the counter pain medicine may reduce any soreness or sensitivity after your treatment.
- Rinse with saltwater. A warm saltwater rinse can reduce swelling and balance the pH levels in the mouth.
If you find that your sensitivity lingers for more than a week or two after you get your veneers, get in touch with your dentist. They may have to double-check how the veneers are bonded onto the teeth.
Although veneers can cause temporarily sensitive teeth in Manchester, most patients have absolutely no regrets about committing to the treatment. If you have questions about porcelain veneers and what to expect with them, your local cosmetic dentist would be happy to talk with you.
Meet the Practice
First Line Dental features a team of five talented dentists and specialists, all of whom care deeply about patients’ oral health and satisfaction. Porcelain veneers are among the many cosmetic treatments they offer. If you would like to learn more about what you can expect from aesthetic dentistry or how our practice may be able to serve you, contact us at 860-736-3405.