Are Lumineers Responsible for My Jaw Pain?

I had Lumineers placed today and it took forever. I have no idea why, because the dentist assured me this would be just a quick visit. I can only imagine that something was very wrong with them, because he kept putting them on, taking them off, and then adjusting them. He never said anything was wrong, but I could tell he wasn’t happy with something. In the end, they looked ok to me, so I told him thanks and went to work for the rest of the day. By the time I was done with work, my whole jaw hurt. Seriously hurt. I can barely open my mouth, and I don’t even want to think about eating. Is this because the Lumineers are somehow wrong? My teeth feel ok, it’s just the jaw on either side where my mouth opens and closes that hurts.

Thanks,

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Sorry to hear that you’re not feeling well. Any time you have an alteration within your mouth, there is potential for it to change the way you bite. When something is bulky, or simply doesn’t allow you to close your mouth properly, it can cause your jaw to become irritated and painful. However, this typically happens over a longer period of time. If this was the case with you, it probably would have taken days or weeks to manifest.

More than likely, your discomfort isn’t a direct result of the Lumineers at all. It may, however, be an indirect result. Whenever your mouth remains open for an extended period of time, the muscles and ligaments which operate your jaw become strained. This is true whether you have Lumineers, veneers, a crown, or even a lengthy, intensive cleaning done. In order for them to settle back down again, you need to let them rest as much as possible. An over-the-counter mediation like ibuprofen, will not only calm the discomfort, but will also work as an anti-inflammatory. Try taking that for a day or two at regular intervals. Warm compresses may also help.

If it fades within a day or so, your problem is mostly solved. Even still, you should mention it to your dentist, so that he can look for underlying causes and help your treat any ongoing issues you may have with jaw pain. If it gets worse, or doesn’t go away in a couple of days, you should discuss it with him right away.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.