Do your teeth hurt when you bite and chew hard foods? Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity when you drink cold beverages? If you don’t know the cause of your sensitive teeth, contact a dentist. Our dental office treats patients with tooth sensitivity in Sahuarita, AZ, and helps them alleviate pain and discomfort. Discover common causes of sensitive teeth and how to stop sensitivity in its tracks with cosmetic and restorative care, including dental crowns and TMJ treatment.
Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
Some of the most common reasons for sensitive teeth include:
- Dental Injuries: Worn or broken teeth can expose the tooth’s nerves and lead to sensitivity, especially when drinking cold beverages. Dental trauma itself can lead to toothaches and sensitivity.
- TMJ Disorders: Temporomandibular joint disorders are bite disorders that come with many symptoms, including teeth clenching and grinding. Grinding and clenching teeth can wear down teeth and create increased pressure on the teeth and jaw. Patients with TMD can often experience tooth sensitivity because of clenching and grinding.
- Cavities: Also known as dental caries, cavities are holes or pits in the teeth caused by tooth decay. As with tooth wear, dental cavities can expose the tooth nerves and lead to tooth pain.
- Broken Restorations: Broken fillings or crowns cause tooth pain and sensitivity as they can also damage the natural tooth enamel. If you have a broken restoration, please contact a dentist for a replacement to ensure that you do not cause further damage or pain.
How to Treat Sensitive Teeth in Sahuarita, AZ
If patients have worn or damaged teeth, we can recommend dental bonding, porcelain veneers, or dental crowns. Bonding treatment treats small cosmetic problems like tooth chips and cracks. Veneers cover the front of one or more teeth in the smile line, while crowns fully cover teeth like caps. Patients who have infected teeth often require fillings or root canal treatment. Cleaning out a cavity and placing a dental filling seals the tooth and removes the cause of the patient’s pain or sensitivity. Root canal treatment can remove infected dental pulp or the nerves and blood vessels that keep teeth alive. If we cannot preserve the patient’s teeth, we will recommend a dental extraction and implant treatment. Extractions remove the source of the patient’s pain, while implants restore teeth at the root.
Do you have chronic tooth pain or sensitivity but don’t know the cause? Call Dr. Jordan Morris for care at 520-412-9162 or request a dental consultation online.