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Dentist in University City

Delmar Family Dental- How Dentists Treat Tooth Sensitivity

If you have been passing up on cold and hot drinks because your teeth hurt, you probably have tooth sensitivity issues. It doesn’t have to be with drinks alone; regular activities like brushing or eating could be causing excruciating pain. If this is your case, it is time to visit a dental clinic and talk to a dentist about your options.

The pain from tooth sensitivity is treatable, and long-term remedies can alleviate the pain and make the condition improve. Before we delve into the solutions that your local family dentistry clinic will use, it is essential we understand the causes of tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity can happen to anyone. There is no one group of people who are more susceptible to it than any other. With healthy teeth, the enamel (the hard outer layer) protects the layers beneath, and the gums provide additional protection. However, on the off chance that the enamel is worn or the gum has receded and does not offer total cover, the lower layer, including the dentine and nerves, becomes exposed. They can also become exposed to enamel and root corrosion cavities, gingivitis, using a stiff brush, plaque buildup, acidic foods, and cracked teeth, etc.  Some people may experience tooth sensitivity after cosmetic dentistry. No matter the cause, a dentist is always on hand to treat the sensitivity. Here are some methods they use to treat it.

Surgical gum graft

A surgical gum graft is done to correct a receding gum. It is a simple surgery that can happen under local anesthesia. A periodontist takes healthy gum tissue from the roof of the mouth and uses the piece to graft a healthy gum from where it has receded.  Gum recession often exposes the root of the teeth, causing sensitivity issues. Most people don’t usually notice when it is happening; hence it is recommended that you have regular visits to your dental clinic to have a check. While it may be a cosmetic procedure for some, people suffering from tooth sensitivity will be happy to get full function from their teeth after a graft.

Root Canal

If you are experiencing persistent pain, you may need more drastic measures to alleviate the pain. Likewise, even when you can still use more uncomplicated measures to relieve sensitivity, it is crucial to look for long-term solutions that will deal with the pain once and forever—root canals. During a root canal, the dentist will access the root remove the infected part, clean the area thoroughly and fill it up with a biocompatible substance that will imitate the dentine or the tooth pulp.  A root canal is the most effective method of treating tooth sensitivity, although it is the most intensive procedure.

Prescribe desensitizing toothpaste

Tooth sensitivity such but luckily nit every treatment has to be intensive or need a family dentistry center to administer. A desensitizing toothpaste is a remedy you can use at home to relieve tooth pain and relieve sensitivity.  Desensitizing toothpaste can be found at the local shop and saves trips to the dental clinic. The toothpaste depends on its ingredients, which mainly comprise potassium nitrate, fluoride, and strontium chloride to relieve tooth pain. They help block the pain in the short term, but it is advisable to seek advanced treatments if you have more severe conditions.

Fluoride application

Fluoride is an active ingredient of desensitizing toothpaste, but alone, it is powerful in relieving tooth pain. Fluoride applied to sensitive teeth can help reduce the pain, and over time it strengthens the enamel and dentine of the teeth. Dentists will typically apply fluoride gel directly to the sensitive tooth to minimize the discomfort of sensitivity.