Dental hyperesthesia

Dental hyperesthesia is an increased sensitivity to various irritants. Let's look at the types of hyperesthesia, causes of the disease, methods of treatment and prevention.

Hyperesthesia or heightened sensitivity occurs due to exposure to temperature, mechanical and other irritants. The disease manifests itself in the form of intense, sharp pains that occur when exposed to irritants. Sometimes unpleasant symptoms appear when brushing teeth, causing aching painful sensations.

• Hyperesthesia causes a lot of trouble. Despite the fact that the teeth look absolutely healthy, they react sharply to any irritants, both physical and mechanical. A sip of cold water or a spoonful of hot soup cause severe toothache.
• Most often, patients complain of hyperesthesia of tooth enamel, while hyperesthesia of hard dental tissues is diagnosed in every second patient in dentistry.

The degree of pain varies, the pain can be short-lived or acute, intense, long-lasting, pulsating. Particular sensitivity is shown to sour food, sweet, hot and cold, and the pain occurs near the gum at the base of the tooth.

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Causes of dental hyperesthesia

The causes of dental hyperesthesia are varied. The disease can arise due to damage to the enamel of the teeth, lesions, and even due to disorders in the functioning of the body. The most common causes of dental hyperesthesia are:

• Damage to tooth enamel due to exposure to mineral or organic acids.
• Pregnancy, menopause, hormonal imbalances and endocrine system failures, previous nervous and psychological illnesses.
• Frequent consumption of sour fruits and juices.
• Negative impact of ionizing radiation on the body.
• Open dentinal canals due to tooth lesions (carious and non-carious).

Hyperesthesia occurs due to exposure of dentinal canals or the impact of irritants on the dental pulp. In this case, painful sensations can occur even during breathing and brushing teeth.

Let's look at the mechanism of the disease. Dentin is a dental tissue that determines its shape and appearance, penetrated by thin channels in which nerve cells are located, connected to the dental pulp. Dentin channels are always filled with fluid that moves. A change in the speed of its movement causes painful sensations. If the tooth enamel is damaged or thinned, this causes increased sensitivity, constant discomfort and painful sensations.

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Hyperesthesia of tooth enamel

Tooth enamel hyperesthesia is a lesion of the thin tissue that protects the tooth from external damage. Tooth enamel is very sensitive. Lack of vitamins and minerals, which occurs due to poor nutrition, disrupts the pH balance and destroys the protective layer of enamel.

• Excessive consumption of harmful products: carbonated drinks, acidic foods and sweets are one of the causes of hypersensitivity of tooth enamel.
• The use of hard toothbrushes and toothpastes with abrasive elements is another cause of the disease.
• Very often, enamel disease is accompanied by bleeding and atrophy of gum tissue.
• Failure to observe oral hygiene rules, refusal to treat dental problems and visit the dentist.
• Bad habits also have a negative impact, leading to the formation of cracks and damaging the integrity of the enamel (clenching teeth, grinding teeth, biting nails, etc.).

If not treated properly, hyperesthesia of tooth enamel can provoke inflammation of the nerve and pulp of the tooth. Due to increased sensitivity, swelling of the gum occurs, which indicates an inflammatory process that requires medical treatment.

Hyperesthesia of hard dental tissues

Hyperesthesia of hard dental tissues is a common dental disease. Hyperesthesia is classified in several ways. There is a generalized and local form of the disease, as well as several degrees of development. Let's take a closer look at the features of hyperesthesia of hard dental tissues.

1. Hyperesthesia by distribution

Painful sensitivity manifests itself both in the entire dental row and in a single tooth. Depending on the extent of the spread of painful sensations, there is a local, that is, limited form of hyperesthesia and generalized.

• Local – occurs in one or more teeth at the same time. Very often, pain is associated with caries, non-carious lesions and other dental diseases of hard dental tissues. Increased sensitivity may occur due to treatment, extraction or filling of teeth.
• Generalized form – pain affects all teeth at the same time. As a rule, this form develops due to exposure of the tooth necks due to periodontium, tooth erosion, increased abrasion and other diseases.

2. By origin

I distinguish two types of hyperesthesia, the first is associated with the loss of hard tooth tissues, and the second is not. If increased sensitivity occurs due to damage and loss of hard tooth tissues, then this is due to the presence of carious cavities, increased abrasion of enamel and hard tooth tissues. If the disease is not associated with the loss of hard tooth tissues, then the appearance of increased sensitivity is provoked by periodontal disease, metabolic disorders or gum recession.

3. Clinical course

This category of disease has three stages. At the first stage, the tooth reacts to temperature stimuli, at the second stage, pain occurs due to temperature and chemical stimuli, and at the third stage, painful sensations appear when exposed to temperature, chemical and tactile stimuli. That is, painful sensations appear even from a light touch to the teeth.

This classification of dental hyperesthesia allows the dentist to conduct differential diagnostics and select the most effective treatment.

Symptoms of dental hyperesthesia

Symptoms of dental hyperesthesia manifest as short-term painful sensations in the oral cavity, in the area of teeth and gums. Patients complain of discomfort after sour, hot, cold and sweet food and drinks. Unpleasant sensations arise for a couple of minutes and subside. But the pain increases over time and becomes intense, pulsating, and persistent.

Sometimes even a breath of cold air causes terrible pain in the teeth. Painful sensations with hyperesthesia are a constant and most reliable symptom of the disease. Sometimes with hyperesthesia there are periods of remission, when irritants do not cause painful sensations, and the intensity of discomfort is significantly reduced. But, after such abatement, hyperesthesia of the teeth returns with renewed vigor, causing severe pain and discomfort.

Diagnosis of dental hyperesthesia

Diagnosis of dental hyperesthesia begins with a visual and instrumental examination by a dentist. The doctor examines the teeth for cracks, enamel chips and other changes. Only after the examination, the dentist can determine the degree of sensitivity of the enamel and hard tissue of the tooth to various irritants. In addition to the examination, the dentist talks to the patient and finds out when painful sensations appear. So, if the patient complains of pain after cold, sour or hot, the dentist may suspect increased sensitivity of the teeth, that is, hyperesthesia.

During a visual examination, the dentist can see significant changes in the structure of hard tooth tissues, enamel chips on the front and side teeth and on the chewing surface, i.e. on the back teeth. The dentist conducts differential diagnostics to determine hyperesthesia. The main task of the doctor is to distinguish increased sensitivity from the symptoms of acute pulpitis.

If the disease is caused by damage, then a correction is carried out, which will help to get rid of painful symptoms. Treatment of carious lesions and professional oral hygiene are mandatory.

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Treatment of dental hyperesthesia

Treatment of dental hyperesthesia is a complex process. Treatment depends on the cause of increased sensitivity and the degree of hyperesthesia development. Today, in modern dentistry, there are many different methods that allow you to cure increased sensitivity of tooth enamel and hard tooth tissues. As a rule, therapeutic treatment is used, less often resort to a surgical method.

• Fluoridation of teeth helps in the treatment of hyperesthesia. The fluoridation procedure is the application of cotton swabs of fluoride and calcium salts to the diseased teeth. For complete treatment of sensitivity, 10-15 procedures are enough.
• If teeth with 2 or 3 degrees of hyperesthesia are to be treated, then modern filling materials are used for treatment, which are used to cover the enamel.
• In case of a disease caused by the carious process, they resort to tooth preparation, cleaning the cavity from affected tissues and installing a filling.
• If the disease has arisen due to gum recession due to periodontal inflammation and opening of the cervical zone, then surgical treatment is performed. During the operation, the dentist covers the neck of the tooth and lifts the gum.
• In case of hyperesthesia due to increased tooth wear, orthodontic treatment is performed. Therapeutic methods are not effective in this case, since bite correction is required.
• The generalized form is treated only with medication. The patient is prescribed drugs that restore phosphorus-calcium metabolism. Multivitamin complexes and calcium glycerophosphate preparations are used for treatment.
• Sometimes, incorrectly performed dental fillings cause hyperesthesia. Increased sensitivity occurs in patients who have had a filling placed incorrectly, if the filling does not fit tightly to the tooth or if there is a small gap between the filling and the tooth. In this case, food debris can get into the tooth and cause pain. For treatment, repeated fillings are performed, but before that, the old filling is removed and the tooth is cleaned, and if necessary, the canals.
• If increased sensitivity occurs after caries treatment, this indicates an inflammatory process in the pulp. To do this, the tooth is opened, the canals are cleaned and filled.
• Hyperesthesia after teeth whitening or cleaning indicates thinning of tooth enamel. Electrophoresis and calcium glycerophosphate solution are used for treatment. A more modern method of treatment is also used – coating the enamel with varnish containing sodium and calcium fluorides.
• Increased sensitivity can also occur due to wearing braces. In this case, a course of applications of fluoride and calcium salts or coating of tooth enamel with sodium and potassium fluoride varnish is prescribed to treat hyperesthesia.

To treat hyperesthesia, special preparations containing minerals (calcium and fluoride), special gels, and folk remedies are used. Let's look at ways to treat increased tooth sensitivity.

Desensitizing pastes

This type of treatment is very convenient to carry out at home. For this, special toothpastes are used, which have a therapeutic effect on dental tissues. Pastes that reduce hyperesthesia contain alkalis, which, when brushing and interacting with water, get into the dentinal tubules, cause their dehydration and reduce sensitivity. It is necessary to use such toothpastes in therapeutic courses, 2-3 times a year. Medicinal pastes:

• MEXIDOL dent Sensitive is a medicinal toothpaste designed to prevent and treat hypersensitivity of teeth, periodontitis and bleeding gums. The paste eliminates the causes of many dental diseases - microbial flora and oxidative reactions in the cells of the oral cavity. The active substance of the toothpaste mexidol is a powerful antihypoxant and antioxidant. The paste has an antibacterial effect and accelerates regeneration processes. The toothpaste increases local immunity, accelerates the healing of purulent wounds and reduces bleeding.
• Oral-B Sensitive Original is an effective toothpaste for the treatment of hyperesthesia caused by increased sensitivity of tooth enamel. The toothpaste contains a substance that is similar in structure to tooth enamel - 17% hydroxyapatite.
• Rembrandt Sensitive is a low-abrasive toothpaste with a whitening and anti-caries effect. The peculiarity of this toothpaste is that it forms a protective film on the teeth, which protects the tooth enamel from the action of irritants.

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Medicinal gels and foams

Such products are designed specifically for the treatment of dental hypersensitivity. The products are used for rinsing or applied to cotton swabs and used to wipe teeth. Medicinal varnishes form a protective film on teeth, and gels and foams prevent inflammatory processes. Such products can be used to treat increased sensitivity of tooth enamel in children from one year of age. The most popular medicinal products in this series are:

• Bifluoride 12 is a fluoride varnish with sodium and calcium. After application to teeth, it forms a film on the enamel that protects against the effects of temperature irritants.
• Tooth Mousse is a medicinal gel that reacts with saliva and forms a protective film on the teeth. The preparation is applied to the teeth with cotton swabs. The gel is a professional dental product.
• Remodent is a medicinal powder for rinsing. The main indication for the use of the drug is the prevention of carious lesions. Remodent is effective in the treatment of dental hyperesthesia. The composition of the drug includes such elements as: sodium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, iron.

Electrophoresis (iontophoresis) in the treatment of dental hyperesthesia

A treatment method that involves the use of pulsed or galvanic current along with medicinal substances. Such an effect on the body is used to treat dental hyperesthesia. The main drugs used in electrophoresis are:

• Calcium gluconate solution - for the treatment of increased tooth sensitivity in children, a 5% solution is used, and for adults, a 10% solution. The treatment course should consist of at least 10-12 procedures of 15-20 minutes each.
• Fluocal solution - the active substance of the drug is sodium fluoride. Before using the solution, the tooth must be dried and protected from saliva. A cotton swab soaked in the solution is applied to the affected surface of the tooth and held for 1-3 minutes.
• Belak-F is a fluoridating varnish with an analgesic effect. The product is used to treat and prevent dental hyperesthesia and caries. The product contains fluoride ions, chloroform, potassium fluoride and other substances that strengthen enamel and hard dental tissues and reduce their permeability. Belak-F is effective for wedge-shaped defects, non-carious and traumatic dental lesions that cause increased sensitivity.

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Folk remedies for the treatment of increased tooth sensitivity

Most often, folk medicine is used to treat hyperesthesia. Such treatment involves the use of only herbal medicines. Folk remedies can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of a number of dental diseases. Let's look at the most effective folk medicine recipes:

• To treat any dental problems, especially hyperesthesia, it is recommended to use a decoction of oak bark. Pour boiling water over a spoonful of dry oak bark, boil in a steam bath for 10-15 minutes, cool and strain. Rinse your mouth with the decoction 2-3 times a day. The course of treatment should be from 7 to 14 days.
• If the pain occurs suddenly, dilute a couple of drops of tea tree oil in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth. To consolidate the therapeutic effect, the procedure should be performed 3-4 times a day, preferably after each meal.
• Pour a glass of boiling water over a spoonful of chamomile and burdock. It is recommended to leave the decoction for 20-30 minutes, then strain and rinse the tooth 2-3 times a day. The treatment and prophylactic course takes from 5 to 10 days.

Treatment of dental hypersensitivity is a long process that must be carried out systematically. All the above-described remedies can be used only after consultation and examination by a dentist. The doctor will determine the cause of increased tooth sensitivity and select the most effective remedy. In addition to remedies, it is important to follow a diet, that is, eat food rich in vitamins, minerals and microelements. Chronic and acute forms of hypersensitivity are particularly difficult, and surgical methods can be used to treat them. In particularly severe cases, the patient is given dental crowns or prosthetics of the affected teeth.

Prevention of dental hyperesthesia

Prevention of dental hyperesthesia is a set of therapeutic measures aimed at preventing increased sensitivity. The dentist selects effective preventive measures that help keep teeth beautiful and healthy. As a rule, these are preventive toothpastes, gels, medicinal decoctions and much more. If hyperesthesia is caused by sensitivity to temperature irritants, cold and hot air, then for prevention, the dentist selects products that seal the dentinal canals and prevent the occurrence of painful sensations.

Let's look at the methods of preventing itching hyperesthesia that must be followed to maintain healthy teeth:

• Observe the rules of oral hygiene. Brush your teeth regularly using toothpastes that do not contain abrasive elements that destroy tooth enamel.
• Follow the correct technique of brushing your teeth. To do this, you need to use a medium-hard toothbrush that will not injure your gums and teeth.
• Avoid using whitening toothpastes, as they contain chemicals and abrasive particles. Such particles cause damage to tooth enamel and wash out calcium from teeth.
• Eat right, eat foods that contain minerals (calcium and phosphorus). Reduce the consumption of sour and sweet foods.
• Don't forget about regular preventive visits to the dentist. You need to visit the doctor two or three times a year.

To prevent hyperesthesia, it is recommended to use herbal decoctions. Rinses are especially effective for gum inflammation, which provoke increased sensitivity. Medicinal decoctions are intended for long-term use to achieve an effective therapeutic effect.

Prognosis of dental hyperesthesia

The prognosis for dental hypersensitivity depends on the cause of the disease and its stage. As a rule, if the patient consults a dentist at an early stage of the disease and the doctor begins treating the hypersensitivity, the prognosis is favorable. The most important rule for a favorable prognosis is prevention and rational dental care.

Dental hyperesthesia is an unpleasant condition that can occur at any age. Hyperesthesia or increased sensitivity occurs due to dental diseases or enamel damage. To prevent the disease, there are many preventive methods that allow you to keep your teeth healthy.