I am undecided on whether to get crowns or porcelain veneers for my front teeth. Either way, I don’t want to feel any pain at all. I tend to get anxiety attacks at the dentist so I need to know in advance what kind of pain I should anticipate. If I get porcelain veneers, will I feel a lot of pain when my teeth are shaved down or will the dentist just sedate me? Manahl

Manahl – Porcelain veneers require light preparation of your natural teeth to ensure that the veneers will look natural, not bulky. This light preparation will reduce the outer layer of your teeth by about 0.2 mm. The process is most often pain free. When teeth are incorrectly positioned or crowded, a little more tooth structure may need to be removed, and some sensitivity might be felt.

Although you might feel a little discomfort during the procedure, and not pain, if you are anxious, let your cosmetic dentist know in advance so that sedation can be arranged. He or she will give you a mild anti-anxiety medication to take in advance of your appointment, and it will help you relax.

Even if you don’t feel pain from the procedure, if you are anxious, it can make your appointment stressful and less productive. Anxiety can cause dental procedures to be interrupted with the need to schedule another appointment to complete the work.

Find an artistic cosmetic dentist to provide you with porcelain veneers, and speak with him or her about your options for sedation.

This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.