After Dental Veneers

Cosmetic Dentistry Home Care Instructions

Veneers usually take a couple of appointments to complete. The teeth are prepared during your first appointment while temporary veneers or bridges are placed to provide protection to your teeth. These temporary restorations will be just that, a protective plastic cap to cover the “preparation” while your custom restoration is being made.

Anesthetic

It is normal for you to feel numbness on your lips, teeth, and tongue for several hours when an anesthetic has been applied. We suggest not chewing until the numbness is completely gone.

Temporary Veneers:

  • There are times when temporary veneers come off. Please do call us when this happens and keep the temporary so we can re-cement it. Keep in mind that the proper fit of your final restoration relies on your temporary remaining in place until the final cementation.
    • If your temporary comes off, you may try to gently place the veneer back into place and see if it remains secure. If so, please continue with your post-operative care as directed and contact us if it becomes loose again. A small amount of Vaseline can be placed inside the temporary before you try to put it back in to add extra “suction” to lock it into position.
    • If the temporary does not slide back into place properly – call our office to schedule a follow-up appointment as soon as possible.

Sensitivity:

  • Hot, cold, and pressure sensitivity are all normal. You may also experience gum soreness for a few days. Just rinse three times a day with warm salt water to reduce pain and swelling.
    • Add a tsp. of salt to a cup of warm water, then rinse-swish-spit
    • If discomfort persists, you can also use OTC medication as directed

Home Care:

  • Avoid eating sticky foods (gum, taffy, caramel), and hard foods to help keep your temporary in place.
  • Chew only on the opposite side of your mouth.
  • Brush your teeth like normal starting the night of your procedure.
  • Floss very carefully – insert and remove the floss from the side of your temporary veneer to prevent the temporary veneer from coming loose.

If you are experiencing symptoms not listed above, or persistent pain that cannot be controlled with OTC medication, please call our office at Bethesda Office Phone Number 301-530-3600 immediately.