Are you frustrated by one or more dental flaws, like cracks, chips, stubborn stains, or somewhat crooked or gapped teeth? If so, you might be a good candidate for porcelain veneers! These thin ceramic shells are customized to match your natural grin for seamless results and then cemented to the front surfaces of your teeth to hide imperfections.
If you’re avoiding this cosmetic upgrade because you’re worried about unwanted side effects, continue reading to learn about 3 problems patients sometimes have and what you can do about them!
Concern #1: Sensitivity
Although these restorations are incredibly thin, only about 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick, that’s just enough mass to detract from your smile’s appearance and functionality. To ensure they fit correctly and don’t look overly bulky, your dentist must remove a small amount of enamel from your pearly whites.
This reveals more of the layer of dentin underneath, which increases your sensitivity to different stimuli. It’s common to develop sensitivity to overly hot, cold, sweet, or spicy foods for a few days after this preparatory step. Thankfully, it usually fades on its own, but you’ll need to have veneers or another prosthetic in place to shield them moving forward. It’s usually safe to take over-the-counter meds like Tylenol or ibuprofen to address any associated aches.
Concern #2: Discoloration
Your veneers are made from durable porcelain that’s not as porous as your natural teeth, so they don’t absorb pigments the same way. Not only that, but they’re also coated with a glaze strong enough to resist damage and discoloration. Usually, patients consider this a perk because their prosthetics are less likely to be harmed or tinted.
However, if you’re not careful, you might end up with an unevenly shaded grin. If you consume lots of darkly pigmented foods and drinks like coffee, tea, wine, berries, or tomato sauce, your enamel is more likely to soak up stains faster than your veneers, leading to multiple tones in a single arch. You can prevent this by avoiding common culprits known to darken smiles or switching to a whitening toothpaste to keep your enamel looking bright and clean.
Concern #3: Gum Inflammation
Your dentist carefully positions your veneers on the front surface of your tooth as close to your gums as possible without placing anything underneath them to ensure it’s fully covered. Although nothing is placed beneath your connective tissues, your prosthetics are close enough that they can become sore or irritated.
Unfortunately, inflamed gums can also lead to periodontal problems, so you should maintain your twice-daily dental hygiene routine to safeguard your smile. You should brush and floss your teeth (with or without veneers) morning and night to remove plaque and bacteria that cause oral issues.
If you still have questions about the potential risks of getting veneers, the best way to get accurate answers is to consult your dentist!
About the Practice
Patients at Corcoran Privitera Family Dental, you and your loved ones benefit from two dentists dedicated to helping you build and maintain your healthiest, most beautiful grin. Dr. Corcoran and Dr. Privitera prioritize patient care and take the time to get to know your unique needs so they can quickly customize treatment plans to meet them. Then, they combine a compassionate approach with state-of-the-art technology to improve your comfort and provide accurate results meant to last. If you’re considering veneers, you can request a consultation on the website or call (740) 835-4698.