Do your teeth hurt when you drink ice-cold water? Does brushing your teeth hurt your enamel? Knowing the causes and solutions for tooth sensitivity can address painful symptoms and protect your teeth from further sensitivity. Our dental office helps patients with sensitivity find the right care for their needs. Sometimes, our cosmetic dentistry treatments in our Arlington Heights, IL office can help cover and protect sensitive teeth. Cosmetic dental care improves the smile’s aesthetics but can also prevent sensitivity to worn and damaged teeth.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
There are multiple common causes of sensitive teeth:
- Aggressive tooth brushing
- Tooth enamel erosion
- Teeth grinding
- Dental injuries
- Teeth whitening products
Sometimes, treating your tooth sensitivity can be an easy fix. Brushing gently and using a desensitizing toothpaste can stop sensitivity. Avoiding highly acidic foods can also prevent tooth wear, as acids break down the enamel over time. Patients with worn enamel are more likely to experience tooth pain and sensitivity.
If patients experience bruxism, or teeth clenching and grinding, we will recommend a nightguard. Nightguards fully cover the upper or lower row of teeth, creating a barrier that prevents further tooth wear.
However, we will often recommend cosmetic treatment if patients have worn enamel, as they protect and improve the look of teeth.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Arlington Heights, IL, For Sensitive Teeth
If patients have worn, sensitive tooth enamel, we may recommend dental veneers or tooth bonding treatment to cover their teeth. Porcelain veneers are shell-like treatments that we bond to the front of each tooth. Veneers can address one or all of the teeth that show when you smile to improve the shade and shape of teeth. Dental veneers can also cover and protect injured and sensitive teeth.
We typically recommend veneers for patients with discolored and worn teeth. Tooth wear can often discolor teeth. As the outer enamel wears down, it uncovers the dentin, a darker underlayer beneath the tooth enamel. We color-match dental veneers to whiten single teeth or ensure that all of the veneers in the smile line are the same color.
Dental bonding is a similar but more cost-effective option for patients with sensitive, worn teeth. Bonding uses malleable, tooth-colored materials to add structure to damaged and worn teeth. A tooth bonding treatment can address tooth chips and cracks while also covering areas of wear on the tooth’s surface. While bonding is not as long-lasting as veneers, it can be an economical option with less preparation.
Do you have sensitive teeth but are unsure why? Are you interested in protecting sensitive and worn teeth? Call AH Smiles for treatment today at (847) 230-9703. You can also schedule your next dental visit with Dr. Brent Engelberg online.