Everyone experiences tooth sensitivity once in a while. Sometimes it’s to temperature, sometimes to sweet, sometimes to biting/chewing and often, any combination of the three (there are other symptoms as well, but let’s keep things simple). Although the following are not hard and fast rules, they can give you a rough idea of what’s going on. Sweet sensitivity always makes me think cavity right away. It may not be the case, but it’s usually my first thought. If you have sensitivity to cold that is fleeting (i.e. lasts only for a few seconds), it usually means the nerve of the tooth is aggravated in a reversible way, such as gum recession, and the fix is usually simple. If the discomfort lingers for a while or sets up a throb, the problem may be more severe. Hot sensitivity may mean the nerve of the tooth is dead (dead tissue produces gas; heat causes the gas to expand, creating an increase in pressure and subsequent pain). If that’s the case, a root canal MAY be the treatment of choice once all factors have been considered. That’s enough information for one day. I’ll revisit bite and chew sensitivity… coming soon!
Dr. Jay Rabinovich