Tooth desensitisation
For teeth that jump at cold drinks, sweet food or a breath of winter air.
Tooth desensitisation treats teeth that hurt with cold, heat, sweet food or brushing, usually because worn enamel or a receded gum has left the root exposed. Dr. Malik finds out which tooth it is and why, then seals or covers the sensitive surface so the nerve stops reacting.
Any of these sound familiar?
- Cold water or ice cream sets off a sharp twinge that fades a few seconds later.
- One tooth aches when you breathe in cold air waiting for the LRT.
- Brushing along the gum line makes you flinch on the same few teeth every time.
- Your gums have pulled back and the exposed root feels rough and tender.
- Teeth have been sensitive since a whitening treatment or a new filling.
Start to finish.
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01
Finding the cause
Dr. Malik checks the tooth for decay, a crack, a leaking filling and an exposed root, and takes an X-ray if he needs one. A worn root and an irritated nerve feel much the same to you but are treated differently, so this comes first.
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02
Sealing the surface
A desensitising agent or fluoride varnish is painted onto the exposed part of the tooth and left to set. It takes a few minutes per tooth and needs no numbing.
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03
Fixing what caused it
If a notch has worn into the tooth at the gum line, it is filled with tooth-coloured material that covers the sensitive surface. If you grind at night, a night guard keeps the wear from getting worse.
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04
Home care that helps
You switch to a soft brush and a desensitising toothpaste, and smear a little onto the tender spot at bedtime. Give it two to four weeks; it works slowly, and only while you keep using it.
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05
Checking back
We look at the tooth again at your next visit and ask what has changed. If the pain now lingers after the cold has gone, that points to the nerve, and we talk about a root canal.
What it costs, and who pays.
Desensitising treatment is usually one short visit, and it is often done at the end of a check-up and cleaning. Plans differ here: some cover desensitising agents and adult fluoride, others cover fluoride only for children. If the cause turns out to be a filling, a crown or a night guard, that is quoted on its own.
Ask for a written estimateTooth desensitisation, answered.
Why are my teeth suddenly sensitive to cold?
Usually because the root has been left exposed by receding gums or worn enamel, so cold reaches the nerve more easily. Sensitivity that starts suddenly in one tooth can also mean a crack, decay or a filling that has begun to leak.
Does desensitising toothpaste actually work?
For most people it does, but slowly. Use it twice a day for two to four weeks before you judge it, and rub a little into the sore spot with a finger at night.
How long does an in-office treatment last?
A few months is typical, and it is often repeated at your cleanings. It holds up better once whatever caused the sensitivity has been dealt with too.
Is sensitive teeth a sign I need a root canal?
Not usually. A short sharp twinge that goes when the cold goes is ordinary sensitivity. Pain that lingers, throbs, or wakes you at night is the kind that points to the nerve, and that is worth seeing quickly.
