You may have heard the expression “no pain, no gain” before, and in many cases, that statement can be very true. It’s hard to build muscle without lifting heavy weights, and if studying to be a rocket scientist was easy, we’d probably have a lot more astronauts. But when it comes to your smile, cosmetic dentistry is an exception to this rule. In fact, many popular treatments have either low or no associated pain! Here are a few favorite procedures, and how you can expect them to feel.
Great Expectations
When many people think of going to the dentist, their heart races a little bit. After all, there’s always a risk of finding a painful surprise lurking in your mouth. But unlike restorative or emergency dentistry, cosmetic dentistry is often painless, meaning you can make drastic improvements to your smile without the fear of it hurting!
Professional Whitening
Professional whitening does not hurt. An in-office Zoom treatment uses activator gel and a light to remove up to eight shades of discoloration, but none of this should cause any pain whatsoever. Following treatment, some patients do experience tooth sensitivity that can last several days. However, this is only temporary, and you can easily speed up your recovery with the addition of a sensitive toothpaste to help replace minerals in your teeth lost in the treatment process.
Veneers
When you get veneers, your dentist must remove a very thin layer of enamel from each tooth. Thankfully, your mouth will be numbed for this step, so you should not feel anything. You will then need to wear temporary veneers until your new ones are ready. These should help protect your teeth and reduce sensitivity; however, you may still experience some until your permanent veneers are placed, typically within about two weeks.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is an excellent treatment to restore broken teeth, hide the appearance of heavy stains, make teeth appear larger, or even to close gaps between teeth. This treatment is completely painless and should not even require a topical anesthetic. Your dentist may need to polish any rough edges, but this does not hurt, either.
Gummy Smile Correction
Gummy smile correction uses lasers to cut away excess gum tissue. This does require numbing, however because a laser is used, there is no need to use a scalpel, meaning you won’t need sutures. Most post-treatment pain is mild enough to be managed with an over-the-counter pain reliever and should only last a few days before it goes away completely.
Remember, cosmetic dentistry may focus on your smile, but that doesn’t mean it has to be painful. If you are interested in improving the appearance of your teeth and gums, rest assured that this safe, effective branch of oral health care can provide beautiful, lasting results with very little discomfort!
About Our Dr. Shah
Dr. Vrajesh Shah is an accomplished prosthodontist who began his education in India, graduating from the Government Dental College and Hospital in Jamnagar in 1998. After practicing in his homeland for almost a decade, Dr. Shah immigrated to the United States and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the esteemed New York University College of Dentistry, where he also completed his prosthodontist training. Dr. Shah has also taken numerous hours of continuing education on topics such as sinus lifts, guided implant surgery, and bone grafting. He is a current member of The American Dental Association, The New Jersey Dental Association, The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and The American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
If you’re interested in improving the appearance of your smile with the help of cosmetic dentistry from Edison Prosthodontics, please visit our website or call us today at 732-943-1709.