Sensitivity & Pain

Sensitivity To Hot And Cold

Are your teeth particularly sensitive when you eat ice cream or sip a cup of tea? Temperature sensitivity indicates damage to the enamel of a tooth. This may be as a result of brushing too firmly and causing toothbrush abrasion. There are some simple solutions and brushing techniques that we can show you to prevent further damage.

Temperature sensitivity can also indicate that tooth decay may have progressed deep into a tooth and started to damage the nerve. If a tooth is left too long and untreated, the bacteria will cause an abcess and cause the nerve to eventually die. An abcess can be very painful and a full-blown toothache usually requires root canal treatment or extraction.

Does It Hurt To Bite Down On Something?

Pressure sensitivity when biting can indicate that there is a crack in the tooth. This may be because the tooth has been heavily-filled before or it contains an amalgam filling which expands and contracts over time, exerting force on the tooth.

Crowns are a great long-term solution because they give strength to the biting surface of the tooth. A crown covers the entire tooth and protects it from decay and cracks.

Toothache

Temperature sensitivity indicates that tooth decay may have progressed deep into a tooth and started to damage the nerve. If a tooth is left too long and untreated, the bacteria will cause an abcess and cause the nerve to eventually die. An abscess can be very painful and a full-blown tooth ache usually requires root canal treatment.

You should address temperature sensitivity early on to prevent costly treatment down the track.

Pressure sensitivity when biting can indicate that there is a crack in the tooth. This may be because the tooth has been heavily-filled before or it contains an amalgam filling which expands and contracts over time, exerting force on the tooth.

Crowns are a great long-term solution because they give strength to the biting surface of the tooth. A crown covers the entire tooth and protects it from decay and cracks.

Sore or bleeding gums

Healthy gums don’t bleed. If you brushed your fingernails with a nailbrush and they bled this would concern you. The same applies to your gums. Puffy or bleeding gums are a sign of infection and inflammation (gingivitis). This affects your overall health. The bacteria in your mouth can be transported around the body in the blood stream causing further inflammation.

Bleeding is the start of the process that can lead to bone loss around the teeth and loose teeth.

Regular brushing, flossing and preventative dental care appointments every 6 months are the best ways to keep your gums healthy. You may need to see our hygienists every 3 or 4 months to get on top of the inflammation in your gums, or be referred to a specialist.

Face & Jaw Pain

Clicking, pain and tightness in the jaw and teeth are symptoms associated with disorders of the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) that connects the jaw to the skull.

Genetics, stress or injury may cause grinding or clenching of the teeth. Clenching and grinding (bruxism) exert additional forces on the teeth, leading to pain, breakage and wear.

A custom-made occlusal splint (night guard), physiotherapy, relaxation techniques and massage are some of the options available to treat and reduce the discomfort caused by TMJ problems.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth usually appear in people’s late teens or early twenties. They can cause pain for a variety of reasons.

If they are impacted and unable to come through to the surface they will hit the molar in front of them. Because there is no space for them to erupt this pushing can cause crowding and pain. They may grow sideways and partially erupt which can cause decay to develop in the molar in front.

An impacted wisdom tooth may result in food and bacteria getting trapped under the gum flap resulting in a painful infection and swelling. Although uncommon, cysts can also form around the wisdom teeth resulting in bone loss.

After assessing your wisdom teeth (and the location of the nearby nerves) by taking an OPG xray we will decide whether your wisdom teeth can be safely extracted in our surgery. Sometimes we may need to refer you to a specialist oral surgeon.

Why choose Kingston Beach Dental?

  • Expertise

    Our team consists of our skilled dentists and our preferred sleep physician partner dedicated to improving your sleep quality.

  • Convenience

    Conduct your sleep study at home, receive results on your phone, and follow up with our team from the comfort of your own space.

  • Innovation

    Embrace the future with our 3D-printed Mandibular Advancement Splint, providing effective and non-invasive snoring solutions.