Is Eating Ice Cream Too Painful for You? How Your Dentist Can Help

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If you're out in the park on a very hot day, you may not be able to resist the temptation of that ice cream van. You may look forward to the sensation when you bite into that vanilla swirl but may fall back down to earth with a bang right away. You may have forgotten for a second, but your teeth are particularly sensitive to cold and this is why you don't indulge in your ice cream passion as much as you'd like. Maybe it's time to do something about this after all and schedule a trip to your dentist, so that they can help?

Don't Be a Martyr

Some people may think that sensitivity is not a critical issue and it's something that you can generally live with. While this may be the case, it shouldn't affect your quality of life, and if it can be fixed, then you should do so.

Exposing the Nerves

Often, the enamel on the front of the teeth will have worn down with time and will not be able to protect the layers underneath any more. This means that the dentin is exposed to hot or cold foods and as it is porous in nature, the nerves underneath will also be exposed.

Many people suffer from this type of condition and it is often linked to poor diet or other genetic factors. Remember, there is a lot of acid and sugar in popular, modern-day foods and these will, over time, do their damage.

Help Is at Hand

While it is not possible to fix the enamel, as such, you may be able to get dental veneers that will fit over the existing teeth and eliminate the problem. These are carefully crafted so that they look as natural as possible.

How Does This Work?

To begin with, your existing teeth must be modified so that they can accept the new layers. The dentist will begin by removing remove some more of the enamel, so they have a smooth surface to work with. This is normally done with some local anaesthetic and isn't too uncomfortable, but once it's finished, measurements will be taken to design the new veneers.

Creating the Veneers

Usually, porcelain veneers are created in a separate lab and you will need to return shortly to get them fitted. In the meantime, the dentist will give you a temporary set, and these will look perfectly normal as well.

Second Visit

When you return to the office, your dentist will have the new set of veneers, which have been carefully crafted by the lab. The temporary device will be removed, and the new ones fixed in their place. This may call for some minor adjustments here or there until the dentist is happy with the way that they look.

Getting Back to Normal

As you may expect, you may encounter some sensitivity or minor discomfort while you get used to your new look and feel. However, it won't be too long before you're able to enjoy that afternoon ice cream in the park, without any additional drama.


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