Tooth Pain and Sensitivity: What Could Be Causing It?

Tooth pain or sensitivity to hot, cold, sweet foods, or biting can have several causes, and the way the pain feels can help the dentist understand what may be happening.

Common causes include tooth decay, a cracked tooth, worn fillings, gum disease, worn enamel, or an exposed tooth root caused by gum recession.

Where gum disease or gum recession is involved, the discomfort often comes from root surfaces that have become exposed as the gum line changes. Dental Cleaning & Polishing may form part of managing the gum condition, though what is appropriate depends on the examination.

Sensitivity that disappears quickly may come from exposed dentin, while pain that lingers after hot or cold, or pain when chewing, can sometimes indicate a deeper problem inside the tooth.

These patterns are clues rather than conclusions. Similar symptoms can come from different causes, and a tooth can be affected without producing much discomfort at all, so the pattern of pain is considered alongside a clinical examination rather than on its own.

If a tooth is cracked or badly weakened, treatment may include a restoration such as a Dental Crown, depending on how much healthy tooth remains.

If the pulp inside the tooth becomes inflamed or infected, Root Canal Treatment may be needed to remove the source of pain and help preserve the natural tooth.

Some patients can also experience temporary sensitivity during or after Teeth Whitening, which is why existing sensitivity should be discussed before whitening treatment.

Not every painful or sensitive tooth needs a crown or root canal treatment. Some causes are managed more simply, for example by treating decay, replacing a worn filling, addressing a gum problem, or using products for sensitivity where that is suitable.

Severe pain, swelling, pain that is getting worse, or sensitivity that continues instead of settling should be examined rather than ignored.

The correct treatment depends on the actual cause, so the tooth, gums, existing fillings or restorations, and bite should be checked before deciding what treatment is appropriate.

That examination may include checking how the tooth responds to temperature and pressure, reviewing existing fillings and restorations, and taking radiographs where they are needed to see what is happening below the surface.

With more than 14 years of dental experience, Dr. Sawsan Awartani examines the source of the discomfort and recommends treatment based on whether the problem is related to decay, a crack, exposed dentin, inflammation inside the tooth, or another dental cause.