Jaw Pain After Veneers: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Understanding Jaw Pain After Getting Veneers

Getting veneers can lead to a beautiful, straightened smile. However, some patients experience jaw pain after getting veneers. This pain is usually temporary but can cause discomfort. Understanding the causes of jaw pain can help patients better manage recovery.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or composite resin that are bonded to the front of teeth. Getting veneers can:

• Improve the appearance of crooked, gapped, or stained teeth
• Straighten teeth and fix minor alignment issues
• Rebuild and restore fractured or worn down teeth

The veneer procedure involves minimal removal of tooth enamel. Veneers provide the look of straight, white teeth without extensive orthodontics or tooth removal needed for crowns.

Why Do Some Patients Get Jaw Pain After Veneers?

There are a few reasons why patients may experience jaw pain after getting veneers:

• Biting Adjustment: Veneers change the way the teeth fit together when biting down. This can put strain on the jaw joints and muscles, leading to soreness as the bite adjusts.
• Increased Tooth Size: Veneers can slightly increase tooth size. This can affect the bite if teeth end up hitting sooner than they did before veneers.
• Tooth Sensitivity: If the teeth are sensitive after veneers are placed, discomfort may radiate into the jaw.
• Tension: Stress and tension during the veneer process can lead to clenching or tight jaw muscles.
• Extended Dental Work: If the veneer appointment was lengthy, holding the mouth open can provoke jaw soreness.

How Long Does Jaw Pain After Veneers Last?

For most patients, any jaw discomfort or tightness after getting veneers is temporary. Soreness typically lasts for about a week as the bite adjusts. However, pain lasting longer than two weeks may indicate a problem.

Some patients are more prone to longer-lasting veneer pain. This can happen if teeth were shortened excessively when veneers were placed. Insufficient pain medication during the procedure can also lead to prolonged discomfort.

Tips for Managing Jaw Pain After Dental Veneers

Patients can try these tips to minimize jaw pain after veneers and help the mouth adjust:

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to reduce inflammation.
• Apply warm compresses to the jaw area for relief.
• Gently stretch the jaw muscles by slowly opening and closing the mouth.
• Avoid chewing hard, crunchy, or chewy foods until jaw soreness subsides.
• Stick to soft foods like yogurt, applesauce, and scrambled eggs.
• Practice mindful, relaxed breathing to release jaw tension.
• Use a night guard if you clench or grind your teeth at night.
• Get a massage to relax the facial and jaw muscles.

Be patient during the first week of veneer recovery and allow the jaws to adjust to the bite changes. Avoid chewing on only one side, which can worsen muscle imbalance.

Are Certain People More Prone to Jaw Pain After Veneers?

Some patients are more likely to experience pronounced or prolonged jaw discomfort after veneers:

• Patients with a history of TMJ or TMD: Preexisting jaw joint issues may heighten discomfort during the veneer adjustment period.
• People who clench or grind their teeth: Clenching exacerbates jaw tension and pain from veneers.
• Those with sensitive teeth: Lingering tooth sensitivity after veneers can transfer pain into the jaws.
• Patients who had many veneers placed: Extensive veneer work intensifies bite changes and jaw strain.
• People with small jaws: Having limited room can increase pressure on the jaws from veneers.

Patients at higher risk for long-lasting discomfort should alert their dentist before the veneer procedure. The dentist may take extra precautions or prescribe stronger pain medication to counteract problems.

Can Jaw Pain After Veneers Signal a Problem?

In most cases, jaw discomfort after veneers goes away on its own within one to two weeks. However, prolonged intense jaw pain can be a sign of issues, including:

• Tooth sensitivity from veneer placement needing treatment
• Misaligned bite requiring veneer adjustment
• Allergic reaction or infection
• Veneer bonding failure
• Excessive tooth reduction when prepping for veneers
• Unresolved TMJ or TMD issues

Patients who experience ongoing jaw, mouth, or tooth pain more than two weeks after veneers should return to the dentist for evaluation. Most veneer complications can be easily fixed with minor adjustments or dental treatment.

Preventing Jaw Pain When Getting Veneers

There are steps patients can take to minimize the chances of jaw pain during the veneer process:

• Get veneers done by an experienced, meticulous dentist.
• Be honest about any history of dental anxiety, TMJ, or clenching.
• Request plastic bite guards to protect teeth during preparation.
• Ask the dentist to avoid over-reducing tooth enamel.
• Get anesthetic shots if needed for a pain-free procedure.
• Schedule just a few veneers per visit to limit jaw strain.
• Discuss bite adjustment early if veneers feel off.

Proper oral posture and head positioning during the procedure can also minimize jaw tension and discomfort later on.

Doing Jaw Exercises Before Veneers

Practicing gentle jaw stretches and massages before getting veneers can help relax the muscles and prepare them for bite changes. Try these exercises:

• Slowly open and close the mouth to stretch the jaw muscles.
• Sweep the lower jaw from side to side to loosen the joint.
• Apply pressure with the fingertips along the jaw and gently massage.
• Place a warm compress against the jaw for five minutes to relax muscles.

Avoid overstretching the jaw or chewing hard foods right before veneer placement, as this can worsen post-procedure soreness.

Managing Long-Term Jaw Pain After Veneers

While most discomfort subsides within two weeks of getting veneers, some people deal with persistent jaw pain long after recovery. Ongoing jaw soreness may result from:

• Chronic tooth sensitivity needing treatment
• Misaligned veneers affecting the bite
• Underlying TMJ or TMD issues
• Excessive tooth grinding and clenching
• Veneer failure or bonding problems
• Too much tooth removed during veneer prep

Seeing a dentist promptly for evaluation is key if jaw pain persists more than 1-2 months after veneers. Based on exam findings, the dentist may recommend:

• Bite adjustments and veneer replacement
• Orthodontics to align the bite
• Oral splint or night guard use
• Physical therapy to strengthen jaw muscles
• Medications or Botox injections for TMJ relief

With proper long-term treatment, chronic jaw discomfort after veneers can often be resolved successfully.

When to Seek Medical Care for Ongoing Pain

Schedule an urgent dental appointment if jaw pain after veneers involves:

• Prolonged, severe jaw soreness lasting over 1 month
• Difficulty opening the jaw normally
• Clicking, popping, or grinding noises in the jaw joint
• Swelling around the jaw, face, or mouth
• Numbness in the jaw, lips, or tongue
• Migraines or dizziness along with jaw pain

Severe or worsening pain after veneers, especially when paired with other symptoms, may indicate a dental emergency needing immediate treatment.

Does Jaw Pain After Veneers Go Away Permanently?

For most veneer patients, jaw discomfort is temporary and goes away fully within 1-2 weeks. Once the bite adjusts, pain medications finish, and muscle soreness resolves, the jaw typically feels normal again.

However, some people do deal with recurring or chronic jaw pain after getting veneers. This may happen when:

• Veneers become loose, damaged, or unbonded
• Misaligned veneers are hitting prematurely or unevenly
• Too much tooth was reduced, leading to nerve irritation
• The prepared teeth develop sensitivity problems
• TMJ disorder or bruxism is exacerbating discomfort

Seeing a dentist for bite adjustment, veneer replacement, or other corrective treatments can often permanently resolve lingering jaw pain that persists long after the initial veneer recovery period.

Learning to Manage Discomfort

Working closely with your dentist is key to minimizing lasting jaw pain from veneers. But learning to manage discomfort through at-home remedies can also help, like:

• Massaging the jaw muscles
• Using moist heat compresses
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers
• Eating soft foods
• Training yourself not to clench or grind teeth

With patience and care, jaw discomfort following a veneer procedure can typically be reduced substantially or resolved entirely.

In Conclusion

It is common to have some degree of jaw pain after getting dental veneers as the bite adjusts. Thankfully, this discomfort is temporary for most patients and goes away fully within 1-2 weeks post-procedure. Staying relaxed during recovery, eating soft foods, taking pain meds, and massaging the jaw can all help manage soreness during the adjustment phase.

However, ongoing severe jaw pain lasting more than a month after veneers may indicate complications needing dental treatment. Seeing a dentist promptly for bite adjustments, veneer replacement, or other corrective care can usually resolve persistent discomfort successfully. With proper long-term management after veneers, jaw pain can typically be reduced or eliminated entirely.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.