What do veneers feel like? It is the natural next question after "will it hurt?" And it is a very real fear: you are changing something you have felt with your own tongue your whole life.
I’m not going to lie to you. You will notice them at first. Here is what each stage actually feels like.
Prep day: numb and comfortable
You’ll be numb. You’ll be comfortable. There is a smart TV, noise-canceling headphones, a blanket, and CBD confections if you want them.
While you relax, I design your teeth by hand and place your temporary smile, so you leave in your temporaries. If pain is the bigger worry, I answer it in do veneers hurt.
Life in your temporaries
Temporaries should not hurt. Some discomfort is normal: sensitivity to hot and cold, and a feeling of tightness, a little like wearing a guard.
You live in them for two to three weeks. The next day, once you are no longer numb, we review them together: the design, how your bite feels, what you want changed. I adjust until you sign off.
The first days with porcelain
On insert day, numbing is there if you want it. I check your bite while you are still in the chair.
Afterwards, your new teeth can feel foreign for a while. Your gums need time to heal and settle. Some sensitivity is normal until your first cleaning, which our hygienist does a few days later.
If something feels off
Tell me. Describe what you feel and when. If you are worried, we see you in the office and take x-rays for peace of mind.
For the full picture of how I plan a smile, read my guide to porcelain veneers in Beverly Hills. I’m based in Los Angeles and take one trip a month to our New York office.
Continue reading: Do veneers hurt? A cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills on comfort · How much will you shave my teeth?
Common questions
Do veneers feel like real teeth?
At first they can feel foreign. Your gums need time to heal and settle, and that is normal.
Is it normal for temporary veneers to feel tight?
Yes. A feeling of tightness, a little like a guard, is normal, along with some sensitivity to hot and cold.
Does getting veneers hurt?
You are numb on prep day, and numbing is available on insert day if you want it. Temporaries should not hurt, though some discomfort is normal.
This article is general information only and not a substitute for a personal exam and treatment plan from your own dentist.
Cosmetic dentist at Apa Aesthetic in Beverly Hills and New York since 2015. NYU College of Dentistry. Founder and Chief Education Officer of Stribe, where she has trained more than 1,000 dentists.
About Dr. Andi
