Fourth Appointment: Permanent veneers

3 DAYS since having the veneers fitted:

So, I have had my permanent veneers for a few days and have to say, they feel excellent!

The process to fit them was a similar experience to the temporary veneers but with little to no recovery time needed and virtually no pain afterward. Result!

The top 10 veneers were first and I was anaesthetised; initially with one injection per tooth but some teeth needed 2+ injections. I have some teeth that are dual nerved, whch meant a nerve at the front and back of the tooth. Those teeth needed 4-5 Injections and I could sometimes feel the odd twinge.

Next, the temporary veneers had to be removed. These can sometimes be pried off in one go but if they are resistant, as mine were, they need to be drilled to loosen them and then pulled off in sections. This feels akin to have an extraction as quite a lot of force is needed to remove the temporaries and it feels quite brutal, like your real teeth might be yanked out.

The dentist warned me there might be bad smell when the temporary teeth were removed from food etc that may have been trapped. That can be a little embarrassing but the dentist assured me it was normal.

After my temporary teeth were removed, my real teeth underneath were cleaned up and preped for the porcelains. I found that some of my teeth were particularly sensitive during this stage and required additional injections in order for the dentist to work without me squirming all over the place. I was completely oblivious to the scraping and flossing he performed but whenever cold water went near them, it was like biting in to an ice lolly. I was injected until I could no longer feel anything. The side effect to all this aneasthetic was the shakes, similar to what I would experience if I was really hungry. Apparently this is normal.

After the cleaning of the teeth, the dentist fitted the porcelain teeth over my teeth, without any adhesive, just to show me what they would look like and check I was happy with them. I am not sure what would happen if you weren’t happy – you may have temporary teeth fitted again! Nightmare.

Fortunately, I was happy with them. I was told not to bite down on the final veneers at all in this state as they are very fragile, like eggshells, until they are fitted properly.

During this stage, the dentist filed some of my real teeth down again in order for the new teeth to fit perfectly over them. The new teeth were placed and removed numerous times and filed where necessary, until the dentist was happy.

My real teeth were cleaned and dried with air. It then felt as though something was being painted over my teeth. I would assume this is a chemical to completely seal/sanitise or prime the real teeth.

I was told that for aprox 5 mins I would need to keep my mouth fully open and not get any saliva over the teeth or it would RUIN the process and the new teeth wouldn’t bond. The hygenist kept my lips away from my teeth for this process while the dentist did the work.

Each tooth was fitted in place with adhesive – I forgot to ask whether this was temporary or permanent. I assume it was permanent. The dentist then wiggled the tooth around until he was happy with its position/ angle and then pushed and held it firmly in place. This was done for each of the 10 teeth. There is a lot of poking and prodding, I assume this was in order to get the teeth fully underneath the gum line and get them looking perfect without any obvious joins.

After the teeth were in place and set with a UV/heat tool, the most hideous part of the process began. This was creating the gaps in between each tooth. This gap is only very, very slight so that you are able to floss properly – and speak properly! This is literally done with a dental version of sandpaper. It was like dental tape, rather than floss. This is then flossed in between each of your new teeth. It feels as hideous as it sounds and still runs shivers down my spine when I explain it to people. On the plus side, it doesn’t last very long and has stopped me having the slight lisp I had with the temporaries.

When the dentist was finished with the top 10 teeth, I was shown them in the mirror. They looked lovely but honestly, I was so exhausted by this point and my mouth ached with all the work I’d had done that I barely took any notice. This process took roughly 2 1/2 hours.

I had a break for 45 mins until I began the same process for the bottom 6 teeth. During the break, I remember thinking that the remaining temporaries felt so nice and normal and pain-free compared to the new porcelains and I quite frankly wanted to say – forget it, I’ll stick with these for now – because I was so drained from the morning process and my mouth felt really sore. I sent photos of the new top 10 teeth out to my family and boyfriend who thought they looked lovely.

The dentist carried out the same process for the bottom set and this took around 2 hours. This was mainly because I had a bottom tooth that persisted in resisting the anesthetic. The dentist had to keep injecting the tooth and wait each time while the anesthetic took hold. I’d pretty much had my fill of injections by this point and was utterly drained.

As I sat in the chair, I remembered the dentist previously telling me about people who had fallen asleep during these sessions. I thought to myself – now I know why! It wasn’t through relaxation but complete exhaustion. I don’t know how lying there immobile is so draining but I felt as though I’d been put through a bootcamp gym session.

After all the teeth had been fitted in place, the dentist spent time correcting my bite. This is done by filing down the underside of the teeth to ensure the top and bottom teeth fit together properly. It is difficult to tell whether everything fits together properly at this time, especially for me after my vat of anesthetic. I found that although it could do with a few minor adjustments, the fit is greatly improved in comparison to the temporaries. There is a checkup appointment a week or so after the porcelain veneers are fitted to make any further adjustments where necessary.

When the dentist was completely finished, I don’t think I even looked at my teeth in a mirror! I pretty much rolled off the dentist chair and slithered off downstairs. I was just so grateful to be finished. The teeth felt lovely and smooth and slippery in my mouth, like glass but my mouth ached and I felt as if I had jet lag. When I got to the reception area I checked them out in the mirror, they looked lovely. Sore, but lovely.

Immediately after the appointment I was in bit of pain, quite a lot of pain to be honest.  It actually felt worse than after the temporaries. I went to the nearest pharmacy and stocked up on pain killers. However, mch to my relief within about 2 hours I had barely any pain at all – and I haven’t had any since!

Unlike with the temporaries, I was able to eat within a few hours. Properly eat. Upon leaving my appointment, the dentist had told me I could now eat whatever I liked and I chose to take this advice quite literally!

When I was asked what I would like for dinner by my Mother (I had gone back home for recuperation and general hair stroking), I had replied – A BBQ! I promptly ate lamb and halloumi kebabs (and not minced lamb either – proper lamb!), tzatziki, garlic and balsamic romano peppers and a tomato & onion salad. Everything that I had been unable to eat for the last 2 weeks.

Although I ate carefully, I didn’t have any pain and found I could chew everything with ease, including the meat. HEAVEN. I had missed eating red meat so much for the last 2 weeks and although I was probably able to eat it with the temporaries, the effort and discomfort would not have been worth it. It was also nice to be able to eat flavoursome foods again and not worry about getting crazy coloured teeth.

I have not had any ulcers since the porcelains have been fitted, which is a complete blessing. The inside of my mouth was raw and sore for 3 days after the porcelains were fitted and so I rubbed Bonjela around the area constantly. I don’t know whether this prevented the ulcers from forming or whether there simply were none. However, for the fitting of the porcelain veneers, I barely wore the ‘mouth guard’ for any time at all compared to when I had the  temporaries fitted. I believe this to be the real cause of the ulcers, as they appeared only where the guard had rubbed.

Since having the porcelain veneers I have been able to eat and drink as normal without any problems. I occasionally get the odd twinge when biting in to harder food or when chewing and the teeth rub together and I am just a a little more careful than I used to be.

The teeth have not been sensitive at all, which is a surprise and one of the things I was most worried about.

I have brushed them several times a day and used Listerine zero mouth wash. I was advised to start flossing after 3 days but have not done this yet as my gums still bleed when I brush my teeth and are a little too fragile for me to contemplate this yet.

All in all, although the procedure feels a little brutal at the time and somewhat exhausting – within a few hours I was pretty much over it and compared to the temporary veneers, recovered far more quickly.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the veneers feel exactly like my own teeth at the minute, as I am still aware of the texture and feel of them. However,  eating and brushing them feels almost exactly the same as it used to. A far cry from the temporary veneers. I imagine in a few months I will become completely familiar with them and forget I’ve even had anything done.

An additional note to mention is that they look GREAT! Beyond great. Amazing really.

I ended up meeting 2 new girls on Saturday on a day out. Neither of these girls knew I had any dental work done and both, separately, commented what amazing teeth I had. It was such an unfamiliar experience that I didn’t really know how to respond! I think I’ll get used to it and it is so nice not having to hide them anymore !

…………

6 DAYS since having the veneers fitted:

Having my new teeth has been wonderful. I have been like a new person, able to smile and laugh without being self conscious. Money well spent.

I flossed my teeth last night  for the first time and found that the bottom teeth became extremely sensitive, to the point where I had to take some pain killers in order to sleep. They a still a little edgy today. I definitely wouldn’t be eating any ice cream or cold drinks at this point!

Other than this, I can quite honestly say I have had no pain or problems from the veneers. As to be expected, it just takes a little time to get used to them. However, they feel lovely and slim and smooth and there is nothing obvious about them that make them look as though they are not my own natural teeth. Couldn’t be happier.

Click here to read: Living with veneers