Hi, I’m Dr Thea, one of the dentists here at Dental House Group.
Earlier today, one of our new patients, Sarah from Gisborne, had her first appointment to get dental veneers as part of her smile makeover. Before we began, she asked me, “Thea, will I be able to eat after getting veneers?”
This is a common question among patients who are looking at getting dental veneers, so I wanted to help answer this question for anyone considering getting them.
There are a few steps to getting dental veneers, so I will explain that first.
First, you will have one or two visits in which we will collect all the necessary information to plan your treatment. This may include photos, digital x-rays, videos, and of course, a thorough dental examination and assessment. Some patients may use our Digital Smile Design service to see the final results before we begin treatment. This helps them become part of the process so they are sure to get the exact results they want.
After the planning stage, we will have you come in for your next appointment to prepare your teeth for the veneers. Tooth preparation involves removing a small amount of enamel so that your tooth can hold the veneer for many years. You will get a mockup of your veneers, which is a temporary prosthesis that you will wear for one or two weeks to ensure your final veneers are exactly how you want them.
Now, we don’t want our patients uncomfortable and of course, we want you to be healthy, so we create the mockup with you in mind. They will be comfortable enough for you to eat while you wear them. We may provide some guidelines such as avoiding extremely hot or cold foods and drinks, and eating hard and chewy foods to avoid any problems or discomfort.
Once your porcelain veneers are ready, we will have you come in for the final cementation. We will remove the mockups and clean your teeth so they are fresh and ready for the permanent veneers. When your teeth are ready and we know you are happy with your smile, we will place the veneers on your teeth and polish them to match the sheen of your natural teeth.
Most patients can eat shortly after getting their permanent veneers. Some patients prefer to wait until the anesthetic wears off, which may take one or more hours. Other patients prefer to wait a few hours before they eat because that is the choice that makes them feel comfortable. We just ask you to avoid biting on very hard things right away, just for added protection.
Your veneers are created to function like natural teeth. You should be able to eat, drink, and socialise without worrying about them coming loose or falling off. This normally doesn’t happen. Of course we ask you to brush, floss and take care of your oral health to make sure they last a long time.
As you can see, you definitely can eat after getting veneers.
If you have been thinking about getting dental veneers to upgrade your smile, we would love to help.
Simply call us on 1800GENTLE, DM us on social media, or complete the form on our website and we will help you organise a consultation. See you in the next video!
