Notice to New Patients

To cut down the paperwork processing time, please print, fill out, and bring the new patient forms to the office on your first visit.

When I drink cold water or eat hot food my teeth are so painful. What should I do?

It is estimated that 40 million Americans suffer with sensitive teeth. Now there are new products and procedures available to make you and your teeth feel better. Teeth become sensitive when the enamel is worn from excessive brushing or as gums recede.

When this happens, the dentin (the layer of the tooth underneath the enamel) is exposed. Tiny tubes in the dentin transmit sensations of heat, cold, and pressure, as well as sweet and sour tastes to the nerves in the center of the tooth; hence, pain and misery.

What can be done?
Many patients come to our office looking for relief from sensitive teeth. The following are some of the suggestions we offer them to help find relief.

• Cut back on acidic or very hot or cold foods.

• Brush and floss gently using a soft bristle brush

• Try a toothpaste especially formulated for sensitive teeth. Look for one that contains potassium nitrate, strontium chloride, or stannous fluoride. Stannous fluoride helps seal off the pain transmitting tubes in the dentin and can help numb nerve endings.

What if the pain persists?
If the above treatments do not provide relief, call our office to schedule a checkup. The pain may be caused by something more severe like a cracked or decayed tooth, a bite problem, or inflammation of the pulp in the center of the tooth.

Painting a sealant or a protective resin onto the exposed dentin can provide lasting relief.