Maybe cold water suddenly makes one tooth sting, or biting on something firm causes a sharp jolt. A brief reaction can have several explanations, but sensitivity that lingers, worsens, or appears with other symptoms should be checked. At McCall Dental in Calgary, AB, Dr. Ludmilla Ciucci, DDS, and Dr. Rafael Tomio, DMD, are general dentists who provide restorative dentistry for problems ranging from small cavities to damaged or infected teeth. Dr. Ciucci’s postgraduate education and MSc in Clinical Dentistry in endodontics are particularly relevant when symptoms may involve the tissue inside a tooth.
What Can Make a Tooth Sensitive?
Sensitivity can develop when hot, cold, sweet foods, touch, or pressure reaches a more reactive part of a tooth. Possible reasons include enamel wear, an exposed root surface, decay, a crack, or a filling or other restoration that is no longer sealing the tooth well.
How long the sensation lasts and what triggers it can tell your dentist a lot about the possible cause. A quick response to something cold is different from discomfort that continues after the drink or food is gone.
Which Signs Deserve a Dental Exam?
Pay closer attention when the sensation keeps returning, becomes stronger, or begins without an obvious reason. Our dental filling information notes that sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods can occur with cavities.
Lingering temperature sensitivity, pain when biting, a cracked tooth, or swollen or tender gums may point to irritation or infection inside the tooth and can sometimes lead to root canal therapy. Severe pain, facial swelling, a broken tooth, or a lost filling or crown may require more prompt evaluation through emergency dentistry.
Why Is It Important to Find the Cause?
Sensitivity can happen for many reasons, so the sensation alone cannot tell you what treatment you need. During an exam, we can look for decay, fractures, gum changes, worn dental work, and other possible sources. Digital X-rays or other diagnostic technology may be useful when we need more information about what is happening below the surface.
Getting the tooth checked does not mean you will automatically need major treatment. Depending on the cause, care might involve preventive measures, replacing a restoration, placing a filling or crown, or treating the inside of the tooth.
If you have noticed a new or persistent change, do not wait for the discomfort to become severe. Contact us to request an appointment with McCall Dental in Calgary, AB. You can also call 587-747-0888 so our team can identify what is behind the sensitivity and discuss appropriate care.