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Tooth sensitivity

Milan Babić

Dentist

Tooth sensitivity

What is tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity, which is also called the dentin hypersensitivity is the state where the tooth dentin (the tissue under enamel) is exposed and in vital teeth it is sensitive to the thermal, chemical, mechanical and osmotic stimuli.

Why does tooth sensitivity happen?

There are different causes of the tooth sensitivity. Most common ones are the erosion (the loss of the tooth enamel) due to the consumption of acid foods, harsh uses of rigid tooth brushes, masticatory force and parafunctions, gum recession due to the parodontopathy, etc. Stimuli such as sweet foods, cold drinks, mechanical action of the tooth brush, etc. irritate the exposed parts of the tooth which leads to the short-lasting throbbing pain.

What is the treatment for the tooth sensitivity?

Hypersensitivity of the teeth can be alleviated by the use of special tooth pastes designed to reduce the sensitivity. These pastes contain some of the medicines which protect the exposed dentin and block dentin canals. However, in most cases the treatment with these tooth pastes is not sufficient and in such situations one should make an appointment with their dentist in order to get the right therapy and to prevent further deterioration of the damaged tooth tissue.

What is used to treat the tooth sensitivity?

In dentistry, the most common remedies for the pain alleviation are:
• remedies which enable filling the dentin canals (varnish based on oxalates, sodium ions, etc.) used to smear the dental tissue;
• remedies for home use, recommended by the dentist, which have concentrated sodium-fluoride base, sodium-nitrate or strontium-chloride base;
• compensation for the lost tissue by the composite resins (sealing up the exposed dental tissue by the liquid composite);
• low-level lasers therapy which achieves biostimulative, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, it is painless and without any side effects;
• in extreme cases the devitalisation of the tooth can be performed (nerve extraction).

When should you see the dentist?

If your teeth are sensitive to the same stimuli for more than a few days and if that sensitivity does not cease to exist, it is best to seek the dentist’s advice prior to use of any of the remedies because the dentist can estimate the cause of the sensitivity, the degree of the damage and prescribe the therapy fit for your situation. The pain is not a specific symptom and therefore it is necessary to establish whether it is the consequence of the tooth sensitivity or if it appears due to some other tooth disease. The dentist will also point out to the possible mistakes you make while maintaining oral hygiene and give you advice how to prevent the pathological condition form happening again.

Author: dr Milan Babić

 

The information published on our website is of merely informative nature. You do not build the patient – physician relationship simply by reading the content. No diagnosis or treatment can be provided without prior clinical examination, which is the basic and most important diagnostic tool. The information you read should only be used in consultation with a dentist. The dental centre does not provide any warranty regarding the information on this site. Specific medical, dental or surgical advice for your particular case can be obtained exclusively at a clinical examination. The Dental Center Bobic does not assume responsibility for other websites that are linked to this site and such links do not imply any link or support to these sites.

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2019-04-18T15:36:45+02:00
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