Jun 29, 2016

Interviewer: You have a sensitive tooth. What could it be? Well, nosotros're going to try to narrow that down for y'all next on The Telescopic.

Announcer: Health tips, medical news, enquiry and more for a happier, healthier life. From Academy of Utah Wellness Sciences, this is The Scope.

Interviewer: Dr. David Okano is an assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Dentistry and it's probably a common thing that people come to dentists for. "I've got a sensitive tooth, what could information technology exist?" And I understand it could exist a lot of things.

Dr. Okano: It most certainly could, Scott. The sensitive molar indicates that the nerve within your tooth is responding to some type of stimulus on the surface. That could exist either a cold sensitivity, could be hot sensitivity, could be sweet sensitivity.

Interviewer: And do those dissimilar sensitivities mean different problems?

Dr. Okano: They absolutely would.

Interviewer: Oh, okay.

Dr. Okano: Right. Cold sensitivity is non unusual. People volition accept receding gums, which causes the root to become exposed. The enamel, which is the crown, does non have nerves on the surface, simply the root, basically, does have some sensitivity on the surface. And so when your root becomes exposed, for example, through recession, it could be cold sensitive.

Interviewer: Okay. And and then what well-nigh a sweet sensitive?

Dr. Okano: Same thing, information technology could exist sweet sensitivity on an exposed root surface. Simply information technology could also be the beginning stages of a tooth disuse trouble. In other words, a crenel.

Interviewer: Okay. And then what about the hot sensitivity?

Dr. Okano: Hot sensitivity is a little bit more of a concern. Hot sensitivity could bespeak the nerve inside the molar is starting to go bad, that one of the symptoms of a nerve before it ultimately dies and becomes an abscessed tooth is it goes through a menstruation of hypersensitivity of which hot sensitivity is unremarkably non a proficient sign. Particularly if it lingers.

Interviewer: Merely generally, cold or sweet wouldn't bother that particular problem?

Dr. Okano: They both could.

Interviewer: Okay. But . . .

Dr. Okano: Depending on . . .

Interviewer: Merely if information technology's something hot, then, really, you need to run across a dentist.

Dr. Okano: Yeah, actually, for whatsoever of the sensitivities, I'd recommend that you see a dentist because cold could exist something very early in evolution. Cold, sweet, and hot could be something very late in the evolution that would mayhap require root canal handling.

Interviewer: Okay. What are another causes of tooth sensitivity?

Dr. Okano: Toothpastes, believe it or not.

Interviewer: Oh, okay.

Dr. Okano: Some of these sensitivity toothpastes are great for treating sensitive teeth, but nosotros also know that toothpastes that are formulated for whitening can be abrasive. Smokers' toothpastes are very abrasive. That's how they remove stains, simply information technology tin as well crusade some sensitivity on exposed root surfaces.

Interviewer: All right. In that case, probably discontinue utilise, I'd imagine.

Dr. Okano: That would exist the best recommendation and, once again, see your dentist for farther follow-upwardly to run into if it indicates something a little bit more serious.

Interviewer: So for any of these sensitivities, it could affect but one tooth or is it going to affect all the teeth?

Dr. Okano: Information technology could do either of what yous just mentioned. For instance, an area of gum recession with an exposed root surface, information technology may be localized to that tooth. On the other hand, you could have generalized periodontal disease with a lot of bone loss with a lot of gum recession, which would exist the symptom of that generalized bone loss and yous could have sensitivity throughout the mouth.

Interviewer: Gotcha. Are there other causes of sensitivity? You've given u.s. some of the first ones you'd expect at.

Dr. Okano: Sure. The sensitivity nosotros've merely been describing relates to exposed root surfaces. You could also have some sore gums that could exist a discomfort to the oral fissure. And sore gums could certainly be related to periodontal disease, another blazon of dental disease besides tooth decay.

Interviewer: Is there anything else nosotros need to know well-nigh this topic or take we covered information technology?

Dr. Okano: Well, the lack of symptoms doesn't mean everything is okay. So certainly, see your dentist for preventive treatments and regular examinations to be sure your teeth and gums are healthy. But at the first sign of a symptom, I would certainly share that with your dentist at the next appointment.

Interviewer: All correct. Sounds adept. How far, normally, after you start noticing symptoms has the affliction, or whatever the effect might be, progressed?

Dr. Okano: That can be highly variable. It could be a very early stage consideration with dental problems that would cause symptoms. On the other hand, with some of the dental diseases, y'all may not have a lot of symptoms until it is very advanced and sometimes fifty-fifty likewise late, where nothing tin can be done. So the severity of symptoms tin be really variable as it relates to the severity of the underlying dental problem.

Interviewer: So if I'chiliad hearing you correctly, if somebody has any sort of molar or gum or any sort of sensitivity, odds are it's not going to go abroad.

Dr. Okano: That is correct.

Interviewer: Yep, and you should get see a dentist right abroad to forestall further impairment.

Dr. Okano: Especially in the early stages. The dental issues, quite often, volition non manifest themselves to you as a patient until they're very advanced and sometimes that could fifty-fifty be likewise late to practice whatever dental treatment. And there's a possibility you could lose the molar fifty-fifty though you did not take symptoms.

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