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:·    

  1.    Decay or infection·    
  2.    A recent filling·     
  3.   Excessive pressure from clenching or grinding·    
  4.    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:

  1. Your teeth are persistently sensitive to pressure.
  2. A single tooth is persistently sensitive, which could indicate that its pulp is infected or dying.
  3. Sensitivity doesn't decrease after two weeks of indirect pulp capping
  4. You have dental pain that lasts more than an hour.
  5. The gums around a sensitive tooth change colour.
  6. You have any obvious decay. 

Prognosis         

    The outlook is different depending on the cause of the sensitivity.