Tooth Sensitivity Caused by Exposed Tooth Roots

Tooth sensitivity isn’t just an annoyance, though it certainly is annoying. For people who suffer from chronic tooth sensitivity, the condition can have a serious impact on their quality of life. It can rob them of their ability to enjoy a good meal or a cold drink on a hot day. It can even make a simple intake of breath painful. Fortunately, if these scenarios ring all too familiar a bell to you, there are many advanced restorative dentistry treatments that can return health and function to teeth affected by tooth sensitivity. The dentists of Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics can diagnose the cause of your tooth sensitivity and devise a treatment plan to restore your oral health.

One of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity is exposed tooth roots. At Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics, we offer a comprehensive range of restorative dentistry treatments, including those designed to treat tooth sensitivity and exposed tooth roots. At our Forney, TX cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice, we also provide treatment for the most common cause of exposed tooth roots, periodontal disease. Aside from causing tooth sensitivity, periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults, so seeking treatment for your tooth sensitivity now could ultimately save you time, money, and considerable discomfort later.

If you’re tired of tooth sensitivity, we urge you to schedule your initial consultation at Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics today.

The Link between Tooth Sensitivity and Exposed Tooth Roots

There are two basic stages of periodontal disease. The first and least severe, gingivitis, is generally quite simple to treat if caught right away. Unfortunately, because it often does not produce clear symptoms in its earliest stages, many people do not have it diagnosed until it advances into its more severe form, periodontitis. Periodontitis is the more destructive form of periodontitis. While still treatable, periodontitis has the ability to do irreparable harm to the teeth and gums.

Among the most common effects of periodontitis is the creation of pockets between the gums and the teeth. These pockets not only create a safe haven for bacteria but also expose the roots of the teeth. Over time, the bacteria will erode the cementum that protects the tooth roots below the gum line just as they do the enamel that protects the teeth above the gum line.

Both below and above the gum line, the layer of tooth beneath the superficial protective layer is called dentin. The dentin layer of teeth is extremely porous, with thousands of openings to microscopic tubules that lead to the nerve-rich dental pulp inside of the tooth. Now that there is a direct route to the nerves of the teeth, tooth sensitivity is all but ensured, especially when the nerves are exposed to extreme temperatures and food debris.

If treatment is sought immediately, it may be possible to resolve the issue through conservative methods. However, if left untreated, the exposed roots can lead to dental pulp infection, which would require root canal therapy.

Learn More about Tooth Sensitivity and Exposed Tooth Roots

To learn more about tooth sensitivity and exposed tooth roots, please contact Forney Family Dentistry & Orthodontics today.

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