Mani Dental Clinic

Tooth sensitivity is something that affects a number of people. It is often caused by eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic. Under normal conditions, the underlying dentin of the tooth (the layer that immediately surrounds the nerve) is covered by the enamel in the tooth crown, and the gums that surround the tooth. Over time, the enamel covering can get thinner, thus providing less protection. The gums can also recede over time, exposing the underlying root surface dentin.
The dentin contains a large numbers of pores or tubes that run from the outside of the tooth to the nerve in the center. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes can be stimulated by changes in temperature or certain foods. 

What causes it?

Exposure of the dentin can occur due to a number of factors. Some of the more common reasons are:

• Gum recession due to age or improper tooth brushing.
• Acidic beverages (such as soda) that cause enamel erosion and dentin exposure.
• Tooth grinding : this may actually cause most or all of the teeth to feel sensitive.
• Brushing with a very abrasive toothpaste, brushing incorrectly and/or brushing more than three times a day could result in a loss of enamel.
• Gum disease, which can result in gum recession.
• A chipped or fractured tooth may expose the dentin.

In addition, some dental treatments can cause sensitivity. Treatments such as such as teeth whitening, professional dental cleanings, having braces put on or getting a filling placed have been known to cause sensitivity during or after the procedure.

What can I do about it?

The first step in doing something about dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is – a dental professional can help you with this.

If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.

If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take, as can your dental professional, to help reduce the sensitivity. These can include:

• At Home: 
  • Use a very soft bristle tooth brush, with low abrasive tooth paste.
  • Brush correctly and do not over brush.
  • Use a tooth paste specially formulated to soothe the nerve endings in the tooth.
  • Use a high concentration fluoride toothpaste (given to you by the dental professional) to strengthen the tooth surface.

• The dental professional can:
• In Office Procedures:
• Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin.
• Fluoride foam or gel can be placed into a mouth tray; you then sit with this in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas.
• Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity.

In the end, whether you need an in-office procedure or over-the-counter products, the most important step is to see a dental professional so that he or she can determine the cause of the tooth sensitivity and help you find a solution that will work.

In the recent years, dental problems have been on a mercurial rise. Lack of proper knowledge and awareness (especially in the rural areas) makes the situation even worse. Dental problems can affect anyone, irrespective of their age and sex. Proper measures should be taken to deal with the problem effectively. People should be educated and made aware of the importance of practicing a good oral hygiene and dental care. In this regard, the Dental Public Health Education becomes very important.

As the name suggests, the dental public health work towards educating the people (in rural as well as urban areas) about oral and dental hygiene. It comes up with various campaigns, health camps and awareness programs (mostly government funded) to help people take care of their and their loved one's dental health. The aim of the dental public health work is to reach out to and, in the process, extend help to a wider mass.

In some of the campaigns, the dentists reach out to the children (in schools and colleges) and explain them the importance of a good dental health and the healthy dental practices they need to follow. Few of the initiatives and awareness programs have indeed been of great help to people.

The Dental Public health workers and specialists work on the competencies as directed by the Indian Dental Association, some of which are being mentioned below:

1. Organizing and managing oral health campaigns and programs.
2. Extensive research to deal with oral health problems of the public.
3. Communicate with people regarding the various dental and oral health problems
4. Measure the status of oral health through effective surveillance systems.
5. Address individual (as well as population) oral health issues effectively.
6. Promote and protect public oral health through public health regulations, policy, and legislation.

The Dental public health is thus, a non-clinical speciality, whereby trained and experienced workers works effortlessly to improve the oral health of communities rather than individuals. It is a broader term that touches upon the different aspects of dental and oral health (causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention, and precaution).

Advantages of the Dental Public Health Education:

The dental public health education and workforce are indeed a blessing that comes with a lot of oral health benefits:

1. The dental public health (DPH) has helped create awareness, thereby lowering the incidences of tooth decay and plaque formation greatly.
2. It has brought about a remarkable improvement in the overall health of the people.
3. The DPH has successfully held campaigns and oral health camps in areas that have been left unattended and neglected for long.
4. Campaigns organized in schools help children and their families to practice healthy oral hygiene.
5. The action is at a community level so that maximum people can benefit from the programs and campaigns.

After root canal treatment capping your tooth is necessary otherwise your tooth may fracture.