An exposed tooth nerve (also known as an exposed tooth root) indicates a serious dental issue and needs immediate treatment. When you have an oral condition that exposes few of your tooth roots, it is known as exposed tooth nerves. It leads to sudden severe pain or sensitivity in the tooth.
Causes of Exposed Tooth Nerves
Below are the common reasons behind tooth nerve exposure:
Use of Tobacco and Smoking
Smoking and tobacco products result in numerous health problems. It can damage the bone structure that supports the teeth. Their use also leads to exposed tooth root surfaces, loose teeth, or gum diseases.
Tooth Decay
Prolonged decay damages the protective teeth layer. It can also make teeth and enamel weak. This leads to cracks and chips on teeth. Tooth decay usually occurs due to bad dental hygiene. Did you know 90% of adults in the USA experience tooth decay? Yes. When not treated for long, it progresses into more advanced stages. It results in an enhanced risk of exposed tooth nerves.
Receding Gums
Receding gums occurs when the gums start pulling away from the teeth. Gum diseases are the primary cause. When the gum recession is severe, it exposes the tooth roots. Exposed nerves lead to infection.
Physical Trauma to the Teeth
Physical trauma to the teeth can be painful. It’s usually due to physical violence, vehicle accidents, or participating in contact sports. It leads to the shifting of gums, which ultimately exposes the tooth roots.
Genetic Abnormality
Sometimes, exposed tooth nerves are due to genetic anomalies. For example, some people have developmental disorders that cause very short tooth roots. It leads to exposure of nerves.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a common habit in those that take a lot of stress. The condition puts pressure on the gums and teeth. This causes damage to the outer tooth layers. It also leads to chipping or resorption of teeth.
Misalignment of Teeth
Teeth misalignment is an embarrassing situation that results in numerous dental issues. It enhances the risk of gum diseases and decay, which causes exposed tooth roots.
Harsh Flossing and Brushing of Teeth
Another primary cause of exposed tooth nerves is excessive floss and brushing of teeth. Doing this puts a lot of pressure on the tooth. It results in inflammation of the gums, enamel damage, and nerve exposure.
How Long Does Nerve Damage Take to Heal?
The timeline that the tooth needs to recover from nerve damage and sensitive nerves relies on the treatment. Different procedures have different periods. For example, in the case of tooth pulling, it can take 7 to 10 days for the wound to heal.
Treatment for Exposed Nerves
The specific treatment for tooth nerve exposure relies on the particular symptoms and its cause:
Mouthguard
If you have a habit of grinding your teeth during day time, the dental professional at Espire Dental will usually advise a mouthguard.
In-depth Cleaning
If gum disease is the main cause of exposed tooth nerves, the professional performs an in-depth cleaning of the mouth. He/she may perform grafting of gum tissue to protect the tooth nerves against further damage.
Root Canal
If the dental professional finds your tooth roots infected, he/she performs root canal therapy. During the procedure, the expert eliminates the infected core of the tooth. It helps to rescue the tooth from serious damage. The dentist at Espire Dental also put a dental cap after the treatment to strengthen the tooth.
Restorative Treatments
Another treatment that the dentist recommends for exposed nerves includes restorative dental procedures. For example, a dental filling is an excellent treatment to address nerve exposure effectively.
During this, the professional clean the decay from the tooth. Then, the dentist uses a composite resin or other filling material to seal the hole. Similarly, if the dentist finds an infection in your tooth, he/she may perform tooth Onlay.
Dental Scaling and Root Planing
If your condition is due to gum disease, the dentist uses root planing and dental scaling. During root planing, our dentist makes the surfaces of tooth roots smooth to prevent further bacterial accumulation in the mouth. For dental scaling, the expert uses a scaler tool to eradicate the tartar and bacterial buildup below the gum lining.
.svg)
