A surprising amount of people think that cosmetic dentistry is painful. Maybe they’ve had a bad experience, or heard a horror story, or maybe they just think that something that looks good must hurt. If that’s you, you shouldn’t worry; the vast majority of cosmetic dentistry is completely painless. If you need some convincing, here are three reasons why you shouldn’t be concerned about pain during a cosmetic dental procedure.
#1: Most Procedures Are Minimally Invasive
People who worry about getting hurt at the dentist are usually imagining something much more involved than your typical cosmetic procedure. Treatments that are meant to make your teeth look good are mostly interested in changing the appearance of the outer enamel, which means more sensitive areas are left alone. Whitening, for example, only entails rubbing a solution onto the surface of your teeth. Direct bonding is another common procedure where a tooth-colored resin is used to cover up chips or cracks. The resin is sculpted into the desired shape, and then a light is used to cure it into place. Both of these procedures can dramatically change the way your smile looks and involve no pain at all.
#2: Anesthetics Are Easy and Effective
Many times, people’s fears about getting hurt at the dentist stem from an old-fashioned understanding of oral medicine. In particular, local anesthetics have become far more effective in recent years. In seconds, a dentist can completely shut down the pain receptors in an entire area of the mouth. They do so quickly and without any discomfort on your part. If you’re still at all concerned about pain, communicate these feelings to your dentist, and they’ll be able to help you.
#3: Aftercare is a Breeze
As was said earlier, most cosmetic procedures aren’t that involved. As a result, you don’t need to worry about extensive recovery times. Any mild sensitivity you might feel after a procedure can be easily dealt with by over-the-counter medications.
You shouldn’t let any concerns about pain stop you from getting your best smile. Cosmetic dentistry can make a change in your life for the better, so if you’ve ever been curious about it, you should schedule a consultation.
About the Author
Dr. H. Douglas Clark III was born and raised in Superior, WI, and practices dentistry there to this day. He has been working at Hill Avenue Dental since graduating from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in 2004. Dr. Clark III is also a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. If you have any questions about cosmetic dental procedures, he can be reached via his website or by phone at (715) 392-5161.