Why Do I Need to Wear Temporary Veneers?
Veneers are perhaps the most tried-and-true of all cosmetic dental treatments, capable of assisting patients dealing with all kinds of issues including chips, cracks, staining, gaps between teeth, and more. However, the process for getting them can sometimes be a little nuanced; while this only benefits your smile in the future, it might feel like it takes a lot to get there. This generally includes temporary veneers—but why do you even need to wear these if you’re going to be receiving permanent ones later on? Keep reading to learn more.
What Purpose Do Temporary Veneers Serve?
If you’ve ever bought a new car, chances are that you took the vehicle for a test drive before signing the paperwork and being handed the keys. This step is important; it gives you a sense of how the car handles and helps to gauge how you feel behind the steering wheel—you wouldn’t commit to purchasing a car that you didn’t enjoy driving, right?
Temporary veneers function similarly; they essentially allow you to “test drive” your new smile before you commit to receiving your permanent veneers. You’ll garner a sense of how the veneers look and feel, and your dentist will be able to make precise adjustments if necessary (sometimes they need to be made smaller, larger, or whiter).
However, the most important job performed by temporary veneers is their protection of your treated teeth. In order for veneers to fit properly against your teeth and appear natural, your dentist will have to remove a small portion of your enamel. This amount is very minimal—about the width of a fingernail—and isn’t cause for concern. However, since your enamel doesn’t grow back on its own, this means that teeth being treated with veneers are inherently going to be at an increased risk for problems, and therefore will always need to be covered by veneers, temporary or permanent.
What Can I Expect While Wearing Temporary Veneers?
It’s not uncommon to experience the following issues while wearing temporary veneers:
· Changes in your dental hygiene routine, since there aren’t normally gaps between temporary veneers.
· Difficulties while chewing, since the temporary veneers are a little thicker than permanent ones.
· The inability to eat certain hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy foods, since they might cause your temporary veneers to become dislodged.
· Because your teeth will have undergone enamel removal, you might experience some slight discomfort when eating or drinking hot or cold items.
These issues are all temporary (just like the veneers) and normally resolve themselves as patients become accustomed to wearing them or once they receive their permanent veneers. The bottom line is that although they won’t stay with you forever, your temporary veneers still serve a very important purpose in that they set up your pearly whites to successfully house your future veneers!
About the Author
Dr. Roman Kotlarek has proudly served patients and families in the Houston, TX metroplex for several decades, and his passion for dentistry is reflected in every single smile that he treats. His practice is excited to offer a wide range of services including cosmetic options like veneers. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to arrange a visit for you or someone you know, feel free to contact his practice online or over the phone for additional information and assistance. Telephone: (281) 559-0130.
