Dental veneers can provide you with the appearance of a white, bright, and straight smile, but are they painful? It's understandable to be concerned. While the cosmetic benefits are definitely worth it, there's a good reason to avoid procedures that are painful. Here's the answer to your question.

What They Are

Dental veneers, to be clear, are just thin layers of porcelain that are applied to the surface of teeth. They're there to cover the front of each individual tooth and to make it look like it has a perfect shape, color, and alignment.

Prep

When you get dental veneers, there will be some prep work that your dentist needs to do before they can be applied. This is primarily the step of removing a thin layer of your dental enamel.

This process is necessary in order for the dental veneer to fit properly. If some enamel weren't removed, the veneers would visibly jut out from the front of the teeth, making it appear that your teeth were further forward than they actually are.

The good news is that this process is painless. Many people undergo this process without even local anesthesia because it never reaches the level of the tooth where the nerves lie. In other words, it doesn't hurt.

How They're Applied

Once the enamel has been stripped away, it's time to put the veneers on. The great thing here is that dental veneers are attached with dental cement. It's the same stuff that's used to attach dental crowns and braces brackets. Dental cement is hardy and capable of holding on for years, so you don't need to worry about your veneers being damaged or lost.

However, what about pain? This process is even less of a danger of being painful than having the enamel buffed off. A thin layer of dental cement will be applied to the surface of the tooth, and then the dental veneer will be pressed over it. There will be a short period of time while you wait for the dental veneer's cement to harden, but that's it — this is a totally painless process.

If you were curious about dental veneers but didn't want to commit to something that might be painful, you have nothing to worry about. Installing dental veneers is a painless process, and it's one that can vastly improve the look of your smile. Set up an appointment with a cosmetic dentist and get the look you've been pining for.