Dental sensitivity

Dental sensitivity

Tooth / dental sensitivity occurs when the underlying layer of your teeth – the dentin – becomes exposed. This leads to discomfort, often triggered by hot, cold, sweet or sour food and drinks, or by breathing in cold air. Pain can be sharp, sudden and shoot deep into tooth nerve endings. The team here at Pacifica Dental can help 😊

Numerous factors can cause tooth sensitivity, including:

  • aggressive brushing
  • gingival recession and tooth root exposure
  • gum disease
  • cavities
  • cracked teeth
  • acidic food and drink
  • gastric reflux
  • fractured prosthetics
  • teeth grinding
  • pulpitis
  • long-term use of some mouthwashes
  • tooth whitening products or toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide
  • xerostomia
  • chewing tobacco
  • bulimia

If you suffer from dental sensitivity, a thorough checkup with a dentist is a must. After looking at any indicators in your medical history, the doctor will consider the intensity of the pain, when discomfort occurs and any stimuli that contribute to the increase or decrease in pain intensity.

Treatment

In building a treatment plan, the dentist will first consider the various causes that may be triggering tooth sensitivity.

If, for example, aggressive or incorrect brushing is considered to be the cause, the dentist will likely recommend the use of a soft toothbrush and special toothpaste, as well as proper brushing techniques and regular professional hygiene appointments.

Forms of treatment will vary, from topical products to surgery, depending on the cause. Here ae a few options that may be recommended by your dentist:

Attention to diet

Patients with dental sensitivity are advised to pay special attention to their diet. According to specialists, carbonated beverages, citrus fruits, alcohol, and other highly acidic food and drink can dissolve small amounts of enamel over time. Using a straw and drinking water after consumption may help to balance the acid levels in your mouth. A checkup to ensure it is nothing more serious is advised.

Desensitizing toothpaste

Toothpaste specially designed to desensitize teeth can sometimes help relieve dental sensitivity. According to studies, these toothpastes contain potassium salts that have a positive effect on reducing tooth sensitivity. Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using gentle stokes, twice daily.

Fluoride

The dentist may recommend an application of fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce pain. Fluoride treatment is often incorporated into hygiene appointments, which are recommended 3- 4 times a year to maintain good oral hygiene.

Laser treatment

Laser treatment is another option for patients with dental sensitivity. Low output power lasers produce an analgesic effect related to depressed nerve transmission, thereby reducing the pain. Ask your hygienist about laser treatment for you.

Surgical gum grafting

Receding gums results in the root surfaces of your teeth becoming exposed, leading to possible decay and sensitivity. A gum graft is designed to cover the exposed roots and thereby remove the chance of any sensitivity developing or worsening.

Root Canal

If there is severe pain, the dentist may recommend a root canal. This treatment addresses problems in the dental pulp deep in the core of the tooth. Some sensitivity needs to have this kind of significant treatment, once other options have proved ineffective.

Working as a team with the experts here at Pacifica Dental, we will identify the cause of your dental sensitivity and recommend the treatment method that most suits your needs. If you want to really enjoy an ice cream or a hot tea, schedule an appointment @PacificaDental.

Dental pain – causes and treatment

Dental pain – causes and treatment

Dental pain and sensitivity are quite common after some treatments or procedures performed in the dental office. This does not mean that you should give up regular visits to the dentist, but you should be informed about the possible causes of the pain and know what to expect.

During a filling, we fill the holes created by dental cavities with substances such as composite or amalgam. It is a simple and fast procedure but afterwards, it leaves many patients with sensitive teeth. Some of them may even experience minor dental pain, especially when brushing or flossing, breathing in cold air, drinking or eating hot or cold liquids and foods. These go away naturally within a few days or several weeks. If you want to speed up the process, your dentist may advise you to take anti-inflammatory drugs, avoid foods and drinks too hot or too cold, chew on the opposite side of the mouth, or use a special toothpaste and brush gently.

You may also experience some dental pain after having a crown placed. It is not unusual, and it normally goes away in one to two weeks. If it does not do so, then you should see the dentist and investigate possible causes. One of the reasons of the pain might be tooth decay under the crown. It could be an infection or a pulpal inflammation, especially if you did not have a root canal treatment before the crown. The most common signs of infection are pain when you bite, sensitivity to extreme temperatures, gum swelling and sometimes a fever. Depending on the cause and intensity of the pain, your dentist will prescribe medications or other treatments. In extreme cases, the affected tooth may need to be extracted.

Thanks to modern anaesthetics, tooth extractions have become pain free procedures. Occasionally, after the anaesthetic wears off, some patients experience sensitivity, pain, swelling or bleeding. After a tooth has just been extracted, these reactions are normal and controllable part of the inflammation process, as the body is making efforts to restore balance in the affected area. The tissues begin the healing process with the help of blood circulation and the dental alveoli narrows. A blood clot forms to close the incision site.

Sometimes, the blood clot fails to develop, or it dislodges or dissolves before the wound has healed. We call that alveolar osteitis or dry socket. It usually occurs within three to five days of an extraction. Symptoms of dry socket may include severe pain that often radiates to the ear or temple, bad smell and taste in the mouth or visible bone at the extraction site. These are clear signs that you should see your dentist as soon as possible in order to alleviate the pain and speed up the healing process. The dentist will flush out the mouth with a saline solution to remove any debris that could cause pain or infection and then apply a medicated gel or dressing to the area to ease pain quickly and permanently.

Dental pain is not something that you should ignore. There are multiple causes that can determine it, but after we figure out which one is it, Pacifica Dental professionals will apply the best treatments for you to have a rapid and successful recovery. We specialize in pain therapy and we offer emergency appointments for patients that are in pain.