Sensitive Teeth? Options from your Local Dentist

​Have you recently started to experience a shooting pain in your teeth and jaw when eating something cold or drinking something hot? Dental sensitivity is very common and often people put off going to the dentist Brentwood until a more apparently serious symptom comes about. But temperature sensitivity is not something that you should have to put up with. It can restrict your dietary choices but also is an early one inside which is best heeded.

If there is no apparent cause of your sensitivity and it has gradually come on over a long period of time, there are several at home treatments that you could try, but if no progress is achieved within two weeks, you should book an appointment at your local clinic to get to the bottom of the problem. 

Symptoms
The symptoms most patients report is the discomfort triggered by extremes in temperature. There are more subtle symptoms, like an altering in the shade of the enamel at certain locations of the teeth. The course of dental sensitivity is often an increase in the permeability of the enamel that can come about through several different methods. The most common is a thinning of the enamel caused by acid damage over time, either dietary acid, damage to the front of teeth or gastro reflux, when the back teeth are more eroded. 

When sensitivity is on the biting surfaces of the teeth it could be caused by night-time grinding. Lightning techniques using oxide bleaches like hydrogen peroxide can increase the permeability of the enamel, without thinning it creating temporary sensitivity.

Chips, cracks of the loss of a filling will bring on sudden temperature sensitivity as the enamel will be completely compromised.

Treatment

Treatments vary considerably depending on the cause of the sensitivity. For instance, in the case of tooth whitening related sensitivity, simply stopping regular whitening treatments is likely to be enough to resolve the underlying sensitivity. Whereas chips and cracks need immediate intervention and filling, as sensitivity that has resulted from exposed dentine will rapidly decay if left in direct contact with the inside of your mouth. Dentin is far softer and more vulnerable to decay and the now compromised enamel. The chip and crack itself also create a safe harbor, a sheltered spot for bacteria to develop that will be challenging to keep clean. If you have sensitivity caused by microscopic holes in the enamel, then it may be best to apply a fluoride varnish or to have a veneer placed to protect against the associated discomfort. 

Night-time grinding may be related to stress and is best managed with guard or may be induced by an underlying dental misalignment that would require orthodontic based treatment. With such a range of possible treatments, depending on the patient's needs, it is very important to explore sensitivity. Early intervention is almost always more effective, less invasive and significantly cheaper. 

So if you or a family member is suffering from dental sensitivity, please feel free to get in contact with the dentist Brentwood. They are operating as normal within the government guidelines. 

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