Pulpal sensitivity is a reaction of the tooth's pulp. The pulp is a mass of blood vessels and nerves in the center of each tooth. Pulpal sensitivity tends to affect only a single tooth.
Causes include:·
- Decay or infection·
- A recent filling·
- Excessive pressure from clenching or grinding·
- A cracked or broken tooth
If a tooth needs root canal treatment, there is no good way to prevent pulpal sensitivity other than to get the needed treatment. Indirect pulp capping is one-way delaying root canal treatment.
Pulpal sensitivity will be treated with a root canal if the tooth's nerve is damaged or dying. Your dentist will remove the nerve and place anon-reactive substance (gutta percha) in the space where the nerve was.
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
While you can often self-treat generalized tooth sensitivity, see your dentist if:
- Your teeth are persistently sensitive to pressure.
- A single tooth is persistently sensitive, which could indicate that its pulp is infected or dying.
- Sensitivity doesn't decrease after two weeks of indirect pulp capping
- You have dental pain that lasts more than an hour.
- The gums around a sensitive tooth change colour.
- You have any obvious decay.
Prognosis
The outlook is different depending on the cause of the sensitivity.