Does a Sensitive Tooth Need Emergency Care?

In the grand scheme of things, tooth sensitivity can seem pretty tame. Most people, after all, experience sensitive body parts now and again. Wouldn’t some slight dental pain be just as harmless? In reality, though, your delicate chompers may signal a dental emergency. Ignoring them could thus raise your risk of oral problems. Luckily, your Morganville dentist can help settle this matter. Here, then, is how to tell whether your sensitive teeth need emergency care.

Examine the Possible Causes

Generally, teeth become sensitive when they start losing enamel. That process, you see, exposes your dentin – a weak tooth layer that lets stimuli reach dental nerves. As a result, teeth with exposed dentin react strongly to hot or cold temperatures, acids, and more. These reactions are often painful and sudden.

When it comes to lost tooth enamel, various causes are possible causes. The most common ones are:

• Fractured teeth
• Bruxism or tooth grinding
• Tooth decay or cavities
• Damaged restorations (i.e., fillings, crowns, etc.)
• Tooth roots exposed due to gum disease

Tooth Sensitivity & Urgency

Given the typical causes, tooth sensitivity usually isn’t urgent. Most cases are harmless and quickly fade on their own. As such, you typically just need to monitor it to ensure things don’t worsen.

However, there are exceptions. Sensitive teeth that last weeks or disrupt daily life need a dentist’s help. Otherwise, you could suffer a tooth infection or serious oral damage. You’d then put yourself at risk of tooth or even jawbone loss.

If you aren’t sure of the severity, your best bet is to play it safe. In other words, quickly book and attend a visit with your local dentist. They’ll confirm whether the sensitivity points to an emergency.

Ways an Emergency Dentist Can Help

Depending on your sensitivity’s cause, an emergency dentist has several ways to treat it. They are the following:

• Fluoride Treatment – An in-office technique, this option works by placing fluoride gel on your teeth. The result is that your tooth nerves transmit fewer sensations.
• Dental Crowns – A dentist could always place a crown if the sensitivity stems from a dental injury or decay. This prosthetic would cover the sensitive area, leaving your tooth with less exposed dentin.
• Root Canal Therapy – In rare cases, sensitivity is severe, persistent, and not treatable by standard means. If that applies to you, a dentist could perform a root canal. This service would remove any infected tissue prompting your ache.

True enough, tooth sensitivity isn’t always dangerous. Sometimes, though, it really can be. That said, remember the facts above so you’ll always be prepared.

About the Practice

Cambridge Square Dental is based in Morganville, NJ. Led by Dr. Yana Nemtseva, our practice excels at comprehensive and comfortable dental care. To that end, we tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work to each patient’s unique smile needs. You can also trust us for top-quality emergency services like root canals and tooth extractions.  For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (732)-972-6400.