Advanced Cosmetic and General Dentistry Blog

Studio City, Valley Village, Burbank, North Hollywood

Friday, March 20, 2009

Tooth Sensitivity

Each person has tooth sensitivity of a particular degree, which is typically natural and inborn. For some, the teeth are quite insensitive and heat and cold make no impression. For others, desensitizing toothpaste is a life essential.

Where is the Tooth’s Nerve?

We may be feeling discomfort or pain on the tooth surface, but the nerve is in the tooth’s center, surrounded by two solid layers of tooth tissue:
  • Tooth enamel forms the hard outside surface, and it ends at the gumline. It is the body’s hardest substance as it is almost 100% mineral in its composition, largely calcium.
  • Dentin is the next layer, extending all the way to the tip of the tooth’s roots. It is another mineralized layer but softer than enamel.

Surrounded by dentin and enamel is the pulp chamber containing tooth pulp, a term which covers nerves, blood vessels, and cells related to immunity. Each tooth is connected to the body’s nervous system via nerves which enter the tooth from the jawbone. Each tooth is also connected to the body’s blood circulation via tiny blood vessels entering from the jawbone.

These nerves and blood vessels run from the bone through the tooth’s roots (and each tooth may have up to four roots) to the pulp chamber. The areas they travel through are the tooth’s root canals, the interiors of each root.

How Tooth Sensitivity Feels

When something impinges on the tooth’s nerve, it registers that sensation and transmits it to the brain. The brain interprets it as pain or discomfort. If a tooth has thin enamel and dentin layers, the nerve may be affected more often and you will feel that your tooth is “sensitive”. When those layers are thick the nerve is more protected and does not so often register any pain.

As we age, our teeth become gradually worn and the enamel thins. This creates a yellowing effect as the yellow dentin shows through. It also exposes the tooth nerve to more frequent stimulation, so we feel our teeth as being more sensitive.

Tooth Whitening Sensitivity

Teeth are whitened by a bleaching agent. That is true regardless of whether you do it yourself with a store-bought kit or have your cosmetic dentist do it with a professional system such as the Zoom! Tooth Whitening System. In most cases you can choose which strength of whitening gel you want, according to how sensitive you feel your teeth to be. The whitening agents come as mild, moderate and strong.

The chemical action of the whitening gel liberates oxygen molecules which enter the enamel. This may impinge on the tooth’s nerve or it may not.

At Smiles By Sands, we understand that people sometimes procrastinate about getting the dental care they need because of the fear of discomfort. That is why we treat every patient with care and compassion and offer the latest in sedation dentistry to help you have the very best dental experience.

Please contact us to schedule a personal consultation.

posted by Evan Langsted at 10:24 AM

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