If you've experienced sensitivity, you know its sensation all too well. What you may not know is that this condition can be prevented or eliminated. By learning about sensitivity, you can make an informed decision about preventive hygiene and appropriate treatments, as well as, bring yourself one step closer to enjoying hot or cold foods and drinks - free of worry. What causes sensitive/painful teeth?

1. Caries (Decay)/Abscess

Bacteria starts to destroy the enamel of the tooth making its way to the next layer in, being dentine. The dentine is directly connected to the pulp of the tooth via little tubules. These fluid filled tubules once exposed, conduct hot/cold/sweet sensations to the nerve of the tooth, consequently making the tooth sensitive.

As the bacteria penetrates further into the tooth it starts to infect and destroy the pulp (nerve) of the tooth. The dying nerve may start becoming very sensitive as the nerves are now completely exposed.

This infection will then continue if not treated, through the tip of the root into the bone causing an abscess. The tooth has now probably progressed from being sensitive to a constant ache and the face may become swollen.

A root canal treatment or tooth removal is then necessary.

2. Tartar

Tartar is a hardened substance that adheres to the surface of the tooth. It is made up of several components being bacteria (plaque), saliva and food. The bacterial component destroys the gingiva (gum) causing gingivitis and progresses to destroying the bone holding the tooth causing Periodontitis. This exposes the root of the tooth (recession) which is very close to the nerve causing sensitivity.

3. Toothbrush abrasion

People who use a very hard toothbrush or not the correct brushing technique can destroy the gingiva (gum) around the tooth causing it to recede, exposing the root of the tooth. Continuing with your brushing habit can wear away the root surface making the tooth very sensitive.

4. Abfraction

People who grind or clench their teeth cause the tooth to flex along the gum line. This can cause the gum to recede and start to destroy tooth structure at this point. Combine this with a poor brushing habit, the surface of the root is worn away making the tooth very sensitive.

5. Grinding/Clenching

This habit wears away tooth structure. Also the constant severe forces placed on the teeth causes the nerve to be over stimulated and consequently very sensitive. Also see details if you clench or grind your teeth

6. Cracked tooth syndrome

This problem is becoming more and more common as many people retain most teeth for a life time. More details are just below. Click Urgent Dental Treatment for details about pain relief and what to do if your tooth gets knocked out.

Cracked tooth syndrome

This is becoming one of the biggest problems in dentistry today and a large cause of why teeth are having to be extracted. This generation of humans are living longer than any other previous generation. So our teeth are being asked to do a lot more for us then they have in the past.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Pain on chewing or when you release the biting pressure (this is because the crack is opening and closing). The chewing pain may be intermittent or only occur when it is hard or grainy foods that land on the weakened spot. Often the pain is very short, sharp and specific.

Some people "learn" how to avoid eating on the cracked tooth and feel as though the problem as gone away. The problem can then get worse.

2. Sensitivity to hot, cold foods or sweet things

3. Can slowly progress to a constant toothache (this usually means that the nerve of the tooth is now damaged and is also likely to need root canal treatment).

Treatment of Cracked tooth syndrome

The two major causes of cracked teeth are;

1. Large Fillings - teeth with fillings in them are mechanically weaker, as there is less tooth structure present to hold the tooth together. If the filling in the tooth involves more than one third of the tooth then the strength of the tooth can be down to 30% of its normal strength. Every time you eat, grind or clench the tooth will flex slightly. After doing this many thousands of times a fracture or hair line crack can propagate just like a crack in a car's windscreen.

2. Habits - this involves people who Clench or grind their teeth or chew on objects such as hard sweets. The tooth is not strong enough for this constant trauma.

Treatment

A visit to your dentist as soon as possible is important to increase the chances of saving the tooth or preventing more extensive and expensive treatment.

A simple crack is where the nerve of the tooth is not involved. These teeth often require a crown. A filling cannot properly hold the crack together and is not a recommended option. The crown, however acts like metal rings that hold a barrel together.

In much less than 10% of cases the crack may involve the nerve (complex crack) and the tooth could still remain or become problematic even after the crown is placed. This is due to bacteria that cannot be removed from the crack and it could enter the nerve. In these cases root canal can still be done through the crown and a white filling can then be placed in the middle of the crown.

The crown will continue to hold the tooth together and will normally last a lifetime. In very rare cases the crack can cause the tooth root to split below the crown. In these rare cases the tooth may have to be removed (extraction).

Article by
Enhance Dental
Web: www.enhancedental.com
The Jewel' Level 2, Suite 219, 566 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, 3004