If you have ever bitten into a cold or sugary food item and felt a sharp pain, you could suffer from tooth sensitivity. This dental problem can be excruciating and disrupt your eating habits.
Sensitivity can often be a symptom of a larger dental concern, so you should get this issue evaluated by a dental professional promptly. Gwaltney Dental, a dentist’s office located in Suffolk, VA, responds to frequently asked questions about the uncomfortable condition of tooth sensitivity.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
Your tooth consists of an outer layer called enamel, which covers underlying nerves. Over time, your enamel can wear down, exposing these nerves, which send pain signals to the brain when stimulated. Dentists refer to this pain as tooth sensitivity.
Tooth enamel is durable, but poor oral hygiene or factors outside of an individual’s control, including aging, may lead to enamel erosion. Once enamel is gone, it cannot regrow.
So if you feel tooth sensitivity, you will need to contact a dental professional for treatment and alleviation of this pain. The symptom will not resolve on its own.
Is Tooth Sensitivity a Dental Emergency?
Tooth pain of any pain is abnormal, and you should not have to endure it. Sensitivity pain is no exception, and you should schedule an emergency dentist appointment as soon as you can to have the sore tooth examined.
Even if you think you can tolerate this pain, you should still visit your dentist for a dental evaluation. In many cases, tooth sensitivity is a symptom of a bigger dental issue, which will require restorative dental work.
Your dentist can determine the cause of the problem during this exam and recommend treatment accordingly. You do not have to wait until your next routine appointment for a solution to this uncomfortable condition.
How Will My Dentist Treat Sensitivity Pain?
The treatment that your dentist will recommend for tooth sensitivity may vary depending on its causation. For minor cases of sensitivity pain caused by enamel erosion, your dentist will likely recommend using desensitizing toothpaste during your oral hygiene routine. This type of toothpaste contains ingredients that block nerves from sending pain signals, alleviating sensitivity discomfort.
Cavities can also trigger tooth sensitivity pain. When your dentist uses a dental filling to treat a cavity, they will also resolve the tooth sensitivity.
More advanced cases of tooth decay and severely weakened enamel may need more extensive treatment, as with a dental crown. The crown shields the tooth from external stimulation, replacing thinned enamel and stopping sensitivity pain. A dental crown can provide oral health benefits for fifteen years or more with proper care and maintenance.
Schedule an Emergency Dentist Appointment in Suffolk, VA
Gwaltney Dental provides both preventative and emergency dentist appointments to patients in Suffolk, VA. Our practice also specializes in cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including tooth replacement solutions. To schedule a consultation with us, contact our staff online or reach us by phone at 757.982.8467.