Sensitivity in the teeth is one dental health problem that causes sudden minor pain in the teeth. A person who suffers from sensitive teeth may experience extreme pain when any hot, cold, sweet food or beverage is eaten or drunk. Sensitivity is experienced mainly due to worn fillings, cavities in teeth, gum diseases, enamel layer wearing, and other reasons. Sensitive teeth cause a lot of uncomforting among individuals suffering from tooth sensitivity. There are several reasons for sensitive teeth, and it’s essential to treat them. This can help ensure better oral health for an individual.
How do dentists fix sensitive teeth?
Teeth sensitivity is quite treatable, whatever the cause.
Your dentist or dental hygienist will clean your teeth. If your teeth are too sensitive to be cleaned, your dentist may use a local anesthetic before the cleaning. After a cleaning, your dentist may apply a fluoride varnish.
The principle of tooth sensitivity treatment is either occlusion of dentin tubules (e.g. resins, varnishes, toothpastes) or desensitization of nerve fibres/blocking the neural transmission (e.g. potassium chloride potassium citrate, potassium nitrate). A newer approach is to use a dental laser. The laser treatment also alters the tubules to reduce sensitivity.
Using fluoride toothpastes and fluoride mouth rinses at home will help to reduce sensitivity. You also can buy sensitivity toothpastes just for sensitive teeth. Talk to your dentist about which fluoride rinses you should use. Some over-the-counter rinses are acidic. Others are not. You should choose a fluoride mouth rinse that uses neutral sodium fluoride.
Pulpal sensitivity will be treated with a root canal if the tooth’s nerve is damaged or dying. Your dentist will remove the nerve and place a non-reactive substance (gutta percha) in the space where the nerve was.
The tooth no longer will have a continuous barrier of enamel to protect it. Therefore, it will be restored with either a composite filling or a crown. To reduce pain due to grinding or clenching, the dentist will make a plastic night guard. Use the guard while you sleep.
