What Causes Tooth Sensitivity and How It’s Treated

When you visit your dentist in Katy, TX, are you worried that you’ll experience discomfort or pain due to tooth sensitivity? Okay, it’s reasonable to be a little bit worried, and if necessary, local anesthesia or sedation is available. But honestly, your teeth shouldn’t be hyper-sensitive, especially when you’re doing normal things like eating or drinking. For instance, if you’re flinching when you have snacks, breakfast, lunch or dinner, that’s not something you should be ignoring. It indicates that you most likely have a dental problem that needs to be treated. After all, you’re a human; you have to eat and drink! So unless you plan to go on a starvation diet, you should learn more.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

One of the big underlying causes of tooth sensitivity is the exposure of dentin, the layer beneath the enamel (hence the term dentin hypersensitivity). Now, this can sometimes occur due to enamel erosion, but there can be other reasons, too. Gum recession is another big risk factor, as it exposes the tooth roots, which are more sensitive than the crown of the tooth.

Common Triggers

Certain dental procedures, such as whitening treatments or the placement of fillings, can also lead to temporary sensitivity. The other thing to know is that conditions like tooth decay or fractured teeth can compromise enamel and dentin, exacerbating sensitivity. This is bad news, but highly treatable. This can include fluoride varnishes, dental sealants or bonding agents applied to the sensitive areas. If sensitivity is due to gum recession, gum grafts may be suggested to cover exposed roots.

All you really need to know is that tooth sensitivity isn’t the norm and that treatment for tooth sensitivity is available at your dentist in Katy, TX. Contact us for help.