Do you notice a sudden, sharp pain in your tooth? Tooth sensitivity refers to intermittent pain caused by an external item touching exposed nerves in the tooth. Ordinarily, the nerves are covered by enamel, a shield-like layer of your tooth. But if enamel sustains damage, underlying nerves become vulnerable and will generate pain when stimulated.
Tooth sensitivity can be very disruptive. But because it is not constant, some people may want to ignore it and hope it goes away on its own. In most cases, tooth sensitivity will need treatment from a dentist to fix. Read on to learn more about how your dentist can alleviate tooth sensitivity pain in the wake of dental damage.
Does Tooth Sensitivity Occur Due to Irreversible Dental Damage?
Tooth sensitivity happens when the enamel suffers some sort of weakening or damage. The enamel cannot regrow if it thins or wears away. In this way, the structural damage and resulting tooth sensitivity symptoms will be irreversible.
Sometimes, tooth sensitivity can be temporary. This may happen acutely after a dental procedure, such as directly after dental work while a filling or crown settles into place over the tooth. But the sensation will fade quickly on its own.
If you break a tooth, develop a cavity, or have receding gums, the nerves within the tooth may remain exposed, causing sensitivity pain, until you talk to your dentist. Not only does damaged enamel feel uncomfortable, but it could heighten your risk of other dental problems too. So do not dismiss tooth sensitivity if you experience it.
Do I Need Dental Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity?
Not all cases of tooth sensitivity will be deemed a dental emergency. But tooth pain of any kind should warrant an evaluation from your dentist as soon as possible just in case. Your dentist will identify the underlying cause of tooth sensitivity and enamel damage in order to offer the right treatment.
In the case of mildly damaged enamel, your dentist may suggest using a desensitizing toothpaste that can block nerves from transmitting pain signals. The dentist may also treat a cavity and provide you with a dental filling to restore a tooth’s structure and bring relief from sensitivity.
If the enamel sustains a significant amount of damage, the dentist will need to replace the lost structure in order to make it healthy and pain-free again. To do this, they may use a dental crown.
The ceramic cap will fit over the affected tooth and seal into place with dental cement. It will cover exposed nerves within the dentin, staying firmly in place for optimal protection. With a crown in place, you will not have to worry about external stimuli causing sensitivity pain again.
So while damage to the enamel may cause permanent harm to the teeth, your dentist can find ways to ensure that tooth sensitivity will not endure forever. Learn more about how to treat your unique case of tooth sensitivity by calling your dentist.