Tooth sensitivity is one of the more common oral health problems people can run into. If you’ve ever felt a slight twinge when eating ice cream or drinking coffee, you’re far from the only one.
If the sensitivity is severe, you may even wonder whether what you’re dealing with constitutes a dental emergency and whether you should seek immediate professional attention. Here are a few factors to consider if you want to answer that question.
Are Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?
The answer is that it depends. Sensitive teeth aren’t actually a condition in themselves—they’re a symptom of a wide variety of oral health problems. Some of these are more serious than others, meaning that it’s hard to say for sure whether you need an emergency dentist without knowing more about what you’re feeling.
If you aren’t sure, or if you’re in serious pain, it never hurts to call up your dentist and describe your issue to them. They’ll be able to tell you more about what kind of problem you could be dealing with, and whether treatment is urgent.
Non-urgent Causes of Sensitivity
The most common cause of sensitivity is a thinning of the enamel. This affords the sensitive nerve tissue inside the tooth less protection from the outside, which is why temperature affects them more strongly. Your enamel may get thinner as a result of an excess of acidic foods, but it can also happen naturally as a product of aging. Usually, anti-sensitivity toothpaste is enough to resolve this problem.
Your teeth may also become sensitive as a consequence of gum disease or tooth decay. While these issues certainly warrant professional attention, mild cases may not constitute a dental emergency.
Serious Causes of Sensitivity
If your tooth sensitivity is severe, it could be a sign of something more dramatically wrong with your tooth. This could include:
- Advanced tooth decay exposing the root
- Fractured or broken teeth
- Worn-down restorations that can no longer protect the tooth
- Serious gum disease leading to inflammation of the root pulp
Each of these problems should be dealt with quickly, so you should tell your dentist as soon as possible if you feel that one of these may be responsible for your tooth sensitivity.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Melton prides himself on his ability to make his patients feel completely at home while they’re at his office. Both he and his dental team make an effort to ensure that every one of his patients feels heard and attended to for the duration of their stay with him. Dr. Melton received his degree from the Baylor College of Dentistry and since then has trained extensively with Spear Education.
If you have any questions about sensitive teeth, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (972) 727-4415.
