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 usually settles. No honest answer to this question is 'completely painless', so be cautious of that promise wherever you hear it. Nevada actually bars dentists from advertising painless dentistry, for exactly this reason.
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 usually 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. Sensitivity usually settles within days to a couple of weeks. If it lingers, gets worse, or wakes you at night, call. That is worth checking, not toughing out.
Also worth calling about: a temporary that comes loose, an edge that catches your tongue, a bite that feels high on one tooth, or sensitivity that lingers past a couple of weeks, gets worse, or wakes you at night. All worth a look, 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.
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