Hyperesthesia of teeth

Many people are familiar with the feeling of soreness from a bite of ice cream, a sour apple – an unpleasant, sometimes even painful sensation that brings teeth together. However, few people know that this condition is called “dental hyperesthesia”. You cannot be prepared for painful attacks with hyperesthesia, since pain occurs suddenly, it covers all the teeth. You cannot get rid of it with a special paste for sensitive teeth, but it can be cured by contacting an experienced dentist with this problem. Modern dentistry has several options for an effective solution to the problem of hypersensitivity. Our article is about the disease, the methods and active drugs that are used in the treatment of enamel hypersensitivity, the causes of hyperesthesia and the options for preventing the disease.

What is dental hyperesthesia?

The very name of the disease in translation from Greek means “increased feeling”, that is, increased sensitivity. With hyperesthesia, our teeth react painfully to stimuli – temperature, chemical, gustatory and even physical (touch, pressure). A characteristic reaction can arise from hot tea, being in the cold, from immersing teeth in the pulp of a juicy fruit, even if it was stored at room temperature, from sweets and sour, salty foods. Sometimes the pain is so severe that a person makes an unconscious movement – he covers his cheek with his palm. The attacks do not last long – 30-60 seconds, but if treatment is not started on time, pain reactions gradually become more intense and prolonged.

Dental hyperesthesia classification and causes

In the classification of conditions associated with dental hyperesthesia, two criteria are used:

• the extent of the spread of the disease;
• the origin of painful sensations.

Depending on the extent of tissue damage, two types of hyperesthesia are distinguished:

• limited – localized within one or more teeth in a row, most often it affects teeth that have been processed under a crown (veneer), having a wedge-shaped defect;
• generalized – extends to almost the entire or the entire row of teeth, develops against the background of periodontitis (when the gum drops, exposing the necks of the teeth), with erosion of enamel, high abrasion of teeth.

Depending on the origin, hyperesthesia is:

• associated with the destruction (loss) of hard tissues – the destruction of dentin with caries, abrasion, processing before the installation of orthopedic structures, with a wedge-shaped defect, enamel erosion;
• not associated with the loss of hard tooth tissue – mainly manifests itself as a consequence of gum disease, which leads to exposure of the necks of the teeth, can develop against the background of general disorders in the body (diseases of the endocrine system, neuroses, diseases of the digestive system), while the enamel looks whole.

Make an appointment

Leave your number, we will contact you shortly

Заполняя данную форму, вы соглашаетесь с privacy policy

Causes of hyperesthesia:

• violation of filling technology;
• damage to healthy tooth tissues during cosmetic processing of the restoration, turning under orthopedic structures;
• trauma;
• over-etching of enamel with acid;
• violation of whitening technology, ultrasonic teeth cleaning or the use of these procedures without taking into account the patient’s contraindications;
• a large amount in the diet of fruits, fruit juices;
• malocclusion;
• bruxism, increased tooth wear;
• inflammation of the periodontal tissues;
• the habit of biting nails, seeds, nuts.

In women, the cause of hyperesthesia can also be hormonal changes in the body, which lead to metabolic disorders, a deficiency of calcium, magnesium and, as a result, a decrease in the strength of hard tissues (including dental tissues).

Each of these factors leads to the development of tooth hypersensitivity. The task of the dentist is to conduct a thorough analysis of all factors of the patient’s predisposition to hyperesthesia, to find out the reasons in order to determine the type of disease and prescribe the correct treatment plan.

Hyperesthesia of dental hard tissues: stages and symptoms

Depending on the causes, the nature of the pathology, as well as the individual characteristics and condition of the patient’s oral cavity, the disease can have different manifestations. Hyperesthesia is characterized by sudden severe pain in the jaw after a cold, hot, sour, sweet or salty food / drink enters the mouth. In some cases, the patient experiences such pain from a simple inhalation of cold air through the mouth.

Despite the absence of visible pathologies or signs of caries on the teeth, the symptoms are constantly repeated, forcing the patient to experience pain attacks again and again. Each person may have different degrees of sensitivity.

There are 3 degrees of hyperesthesia:

• 1
  Teeth react primarily to cold and warmth. The threshold of dentin susceptibility is 5-8 μA.
• 2
  Discomfort appears not only on temperature, but also on taste stimuli (sour, sweet, salty food). The sensitivity threshold is 3-5 μA.
• 3
  Pain arises from any stimulus, even from simple pressure or touch. Excitability of dentin is 1.5-3 μA.

With increased sensitivity, even standard brushing of teeth becomes a real challenge for a person, and in some cases becomes impossible due to pain. As a result, plaque accumulates on the teeth, and over time, hard dental deposits appear. Under such conditions, complications in the form of gum inflammation (gingivitis, periodontitis) and the development of caries are natural. In order to prevent severe pain, severe complications, you need to seek help from a dentist even with insignificant sensitivity, which may be a sign of hyperesthesia in the initial stage.

Hyperesthesia of teeth: treatment in dentistry

Before starting the treatment of hyperesthesia, the doctor conducts a comprehensive diagnosis, which includes:

• collection of anamnesis;
• pulp condition check (x-ray);
• tests to assess the degree of susceptibility of tooth tissues to various stimuli (cold test, tapping with a dental instrument).

Based on the results of the diagnosis, the dentist draws up a plan for the treatment and prevention of hypersensitivity in the future.

Hyperesthesia treatment methods:

• elimination of the causes of hypersensitivity – treatment of caries, periodontitis, replacement of old / low-quality orthopedic structures, fillings, elimination of a wedge-shaped defect;
• remineralization of enamel – replenishment of the deficiency of minerals that are responsible for its strength;
• treatment with drugs that reduce sensitivity;
• physiotherapy (electrophoresis) is used for progressive hyperesthesia, increases the activity of ions of useful substances, helps to achieve remission in 10-14 days.

Dental hyperesthesia: drugs used for dental hypersensitivity

In the treatment of hypersensitivity, drugs of different effects are used:

• means for strengthening and enhancing the protective properties of dentin;
• drugs that block pain.

Let us consider in more detail the different groups of drugs that are used in the treatment of dental hyperesthesia:

• 1
  Fluorides. Preparations based on the symbiosis of calcium and fluoride ions, which react with each other to form a mineral salt, which, in turn, reliably seals the dentinal tubules and strengthens the dental tissues.
• 2
  Fluorinated varnishes. Applications with these drugs are used to reduce sensitivity. This is due to the fact that the components of the varnish penetrate into the micropores of the enamel and thereby protect against irritants. Fluoride varnishes are applied in several layers and have a temporary effect.
• 3
  Remineralization products. Their main task is to restore the normal mineral composition of dental tissues. In the treatment of hyperesthesia, both professional remedies and preparations for home use are used.
• 4
  Oxalates. By the type of fluoride, such preparations form insoluble salts, reliably seal the dentinal tubules and thus solve the problem of hypersensitivity.
• 5
  Desensitizers. The drugs reduce the susceptibility of teeth to irritants due to the fact that they promote protein denaturation and hermetically seal the dentinal tubules. They are used as a treatment insert for restoration, in external applications. There are also general purpose desensitizers.

Prevention and treatment of dental hyperesthesia at home

Hypersensitivity requires complex treatment, which is not limited to professional manipulations in dentistry. The patient also needs to make an effort to achieve a positive result, since after treatment in the clinic, some of the procedures, as well as special hygiene, are carried out at home.

Home treatment is mainly aimed at maintaining remission and preventing hyperesthesia. For this purpose, doctors can prescribe applications and rinses with pharmaceutical preparations to patients, and also give recommendations on hygiene and lifestyle.

In case of hyperesthesia and during the treatment of tooth sensitivity, the following measures will help to avoid unpleasant symptoms:

• Power control. It is recommended to refuse foods that contribute to the destruction of enamel and can provoke a painful attack – sour, sweet, salty foods, cold and hot foods, carbonated drinks, fresh fruits and fruit juices. You should also try not to talk or inhale the air on the street on frosty days.
• Delicate care. For the hygiene of sensitive teeth, it is better to use a soft or ultra soft brush. A special tapered bristle brush is ideal. Also, doctors recommend using toothpaste for sensitive teeth. During cleaning, no effort is needed to avoid unpleasant pressure sensations.
• Rinses. After each meal, you should rinse your mouth with a special desensitizing mouthwash.
• Preventive examination by the dentist. If there is a predisposition to hyperesthesia, it is recommended to check the condition of the teeth at least once every six months (preferably once every 3-4 months). This will allow diagnosing the development of caries and non-carious pathological processes at an early stage and avoiding complications.

How to avoid the appearance of hyperesthesia?

Hypersensitivity prevention measures are the standard rules for oral care:

• restriction in the diet of foods that can harm teeth;
• proper and thorough hygiene, the use of a good brush, paste, additional devices for high-quality cleaning of teeth (floss, interdental brushes);
• rinsing your mouth after a snack with water or balm that your dentist has recommended;
• attentive attitude to one’s health in general, especially the health of the digestive system;
• checking the condition of teeth and gums at the dentist every 3-6 months, timely treatment of ostomy diseases and carrying out professional preventive procedures in dentistry (professional teeth cleaning);
• a responsible choice of a dental clinic – the health of teeth and gums largely depends on the quality of professional care and treatment (doctor’s experience, quality of materials, effectiveness of methods).

If you consult a doctor with a problem in time, the prognosis for the treatment of hyperesthesia is the most favorable. The specialist can correctly establish the cause and nature of the pathology, prescribe an adequate treatment program that will help achieve long-term, stable remission and avoid complications. But the main thing is that timely treatment gives a person the opportunity to live a full life without pain and discomfort.