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Tooth Sensitivity Treatments in Great Neck, New York

Patients with sensitive teeth tend to experience sharp, temporary dental pain due to specific activities like brushing, drinking, or eating. There are several possible causes of tooth sensitivity, including tooth decay, worn tooth enamel, worn fillings, a cracked tooth, or tooth roots that have been exposed due to aggressive tooth brushing, gum recession, or gum (periodontal) disease. It is crucial for patients experiencing tooth sensitivity to visit their dentist to pinpoint the pain’s underlying cause.

What is Tooth Sensitivity?

When the underlying layer of one’s teeth, known as the dentin, is exposed due to receding gum tissue, tooth sensitivity often results. Gum tissue serves as a protective barrier for tooth roots, which are not covered by hard enamel and house thousands of tiny dentinal tubes or channels connected to the tooth’s nerve center, referred to as pulp. And when stimuli make contact with the tooth’s nerve, patients experience pain. What May Cause Tooth Sensitivity? Several factors contribute to the development of tooth sensitivity. For example, frequent consumption of acidic foods like tomatoes, pickles, tea, and citrus fruits can cause enamel erosion, leading to tooth sensitivity. Brushing too aggressively or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can also wear down dental enamel and expose the dentin over time. Additionally, brushing too hard can even cause the gum line to pull away from the tooth, receding. And gum recession itself can cause tooth sensitivity. “As gums move away from a tooth because of conditions such as periodontal disease, the root surface becomes exposed.” Moreover, gum disease can also result in tooth sensitivity, as an inflamed, sore gum tissue can indicate loss of ligaments that exposes the root surface.

Not only can plaque buildup cause sensitivity, but bacteria from said buildup can accumulate in cracked, chipped, or broken teeth and enter the pulp, causing inflammation and sensitivity as well. Tooth sensitivity can also result from tooth grinding, tooth whitening products, or toothpaste containing peroxide and baking soda. And prolonged use of certain over-the-counter mouthwashes can aggravate tooth sensitivity, as they contain acids that may bother and further damage exposed dentin. Age is also a significant contributing factor to sensitive teeth, with those between the ages of 25 and 30 particularly susceptible to this condition.

Care and Treatment Options

Depending on the root cause of your sensitive teeth, your dentist may recommend the following:

• Desensitizing toothpaste: Once applied numerous times, this can help block some of the pain associated with tooth sensitivity. Your dentist can help you determine which of the various over-the-counter products available would best suit your needs.
• Desensitizing or bonding: Exposed roots can sometimes be treated via the application of bonding resin to sensitive root surfaces.
• Fluoride: Applying fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth can strengthen tooth enamel and minimize pain. Your dentist may apply fluoride in their office or recommend an at-home prescription fluoride treatment.
• Root canal: If you experience severe pain as a result of your sensitive teeth and do not get any relief from other treatment options, your dentist may suggest a root canal. A procedure performed to treat problems within the dental pulp, root canals are widely considered the most successful technique for eradicating tooth sensitivity.
• Surgical gum graft: A small piece of gum tissue can be removed from elsewhere in the mouth and attached to a site where a tooth root has lost gum tissue, protecting exposed roots and minimizing sensitivity.

Eradicate Tooth Sensitivity with Dr. Julie Liberman DDS

Dr. Julie Liberman DDS of Great Neck Dental Care NY is thrilled to offer the tooth sensitivity treatments mentioned above to patients in the Great Neck area, spanning New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Douglaston, Jericho, Roslyn, etc. Tooth sensitivity can be incredibly bothersome and uncomfortable. To determine which treatment option is best suited to your circumstances and get much-needed relief, visit our website or call us to make an appointment with Dr. Liberman today.