Sensitive teeth can turn everyday pleasures like sipping hot coffee or enjoying ice cream into uncomfortable experiences. At TORC Dental, Dr. Subea Hijazi, DDS understands how tooth sensitivity affects your quality of life and offers comprehensive solutions to address the root causes. Whether your sensitivity stems from gum recession, enamel erosion, or other dental issues, specialized treatment can restore your comfort and protect your oral health for years to come.
Sensitivity Treatment
Understanding Sensitivity Treatment
Tooth sensitivity occurs when the protective layers of your teeth become compromised, exposing the underlying dentin or nerve endings. This exposure creates sharp, sudden pain when you encounter hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages. While some people experience mild discomfort, others deal with severe pain that affects their daily routines and food choices.
Sensitivity treatment focuses on identifying the underlying cause of your discomfort and implementing targeted solutions. These treatments range from non-invasive options like desensitizing toothpaste and fluoride applications to more comprehensive procedures like gum grafting when recession is the culprit. The goal is to provide long-lasting relief while protecting your teeth from further damage.
Take the First Step
Benefits of Sensitivity Treatment
Prevents Progression of Gum Recession
Addressing tooth sensitivity early stops gum tissue from pulling further away from your teeth and exposing more root surface. Once recession begins, it often continues without intervention, affecting adjacent teeth and creating more areas of discomfort. Professional sensitivity treatment stabilizes your gum line and prevents the domino effect of progressive tissue loss. This proactive approach saves you from more complex procedures later while preserving your natural tooth structure.
Reduces Risk of Root Decay and Infection
Exposed tooth roots lack the protective enamel coating that shields the rest of your teeth from bacterial invasion. This vulnerability makes sensitivity-affected areas prime targets for cavities and infections that can compromise the entire tooth. Treatment options like gum grafting restore the natural barrier that keeps harmful bacteria away from delicate root surfaces. By covering exposed areas, you significantly lower your chances of developing painful root infections or requiring root canal therapy.
Enhances Overall Quality of Life
Chronic tooth sensitivity affects more than just your mouth—it influences your mood, social interactions, and daily routines in subtle but significant ways. You’ll no longer need to strategically plan meals around what temperatures you can tolerate or feel embarrassed declining certain foods. Professional treatment frees you from constant vigilance about what might trigger pain, allowing you to focus on enjoying experiences rather than managing discomfort. This improvement extends to better sleep quality when you’re not awakened by sensitivity from nighttime breathing or teeth grinding.
Supports Healthier Gum Tissue Long-Term
Treating gum recession through procedures like gingival grafts doesn’t just cover exposed roots—it promotes healthier, more resilient gum tissue overall. The restored tissue creates better blood flow to the area, supporting natural healing and resistance to future problems. Healthy gums form a tight seal around your teeth that prevents bacteria accumulation and reduces inflammation throughout your mouth. This foundation of strong gum tissue contributes to better periodontal health that protects your teeth for decades.
Eliminates the Need for Dietary Restrictions
Many people with untreated tooth sensitivity unconsciously avoid entire categories of foods and beverages to prevent pain episodes. You might skip nutritious citrus fruits, avoid hot soups on cold days, or drink lukewarm coffee when you’d prefer it steaming. Sensitivity treatment removes these limitations so you can make food choices based on preference and nutrition rather than fear of discomfort. This freedom supports better overall nutrition and allows you to fully enjoy dining experiences without mental calculations about temperature sensitivity.
Our Dental Sensitivity Treatment Process
Comprehensive Sensitivity Evaluation
Dr. Subea Hijazi begins with a thorough examination to pinpoint the exact source of your tooth sensitivity and assess the extent of gum recession. She’ll measure gum attachment levels, identify exposed root surfaces, and review your brushing habits and medical history to understand contributing factors. Digital imaging may be used to evaluate bone levels and determine which areas require grafting to restore proper protection.
Personalized Gum Restoration Plan
Based on your examination findings, a customized treatment approach is designed specifically for your recession patterns and sensitivity concerns. Dr. Hijazi explains how gum grafting will restore coverage over exposed roots, discusses tissue sourcing options, and outlines realistic expectations for results. You’ll receive a clear timeline for the procedure and recovery, along with answers to all your questions before moving forward.
Gingival Grafting Procedure
During the gum grafting procedure, Dr. Hijazi carefully harvests a small piece of tissue from your palate and secures it to the receded area using advanced surgical techniques. Local anesthesia ensures your comfort throughout the process, and precision placement promotes optimal bonding and natural-looking results. The procedure typically takes one to two hours depending on how many sites require treatment, and you’ll receive detailed post-operative care instructions before leaving.
Healing and Home Care Guidelines
Following your gum graft, you’ll follow specific care instructions to protect the treated area and support proper tissue integration. This includes eating soft foods temporarily, avoiding vigorous brushing near the graft site, and using prescribed rinses to maintain cleanliness without disrupting healing. Most patients experience only mild discomfort managed easily with over-the-counter pain relievers, and initial healing occurs within the first week.
Progress Monitoring and Long-Term Success
Scheduled follow-up visits allow Dr. Hijazi to monitor how the grafted tissue is bonding to your tooth and ensure proper healing without complications. These appointments provide opportunities to adjust your oral care routine as healing progresses and address any concerns you may have. Within several weeks, the graft fully integrates with your existing tissue, restoring natural gum coverage that eliminates sensitivity and protects your tooth roots permanently.
Why Partner with Us for Your Tooth Sensitivity Treatment
Dealing with tooth sensitivity requires more than temporary fixes—it demands proper diagnosis and treatment that addresses the underlying problem. Dr. Subea Hijazi focuses on identifying whether gum recession, enamel wear, or other factors are causing your discomfort before recommending solutions. We approach gum grafting using innovative surgical techniques that restore protective coverage over exposed roots, giving you lasting relief rather than just symptom management.
Our practice recognizes that understanding your treatment makes a significant difference in your comfort level and outcomes. We explain each aspect of your sensitivity treatment in straightforward terms, from what happens during gum grafting to what you can expect during recovery. You’ll never feel rushed or confused about your care, and our team remains available to address concerns that arise after your appointment.
We Turn Temporary Relief Into Permanent Solutions!
Effective sensitivity treatment transforms how you experience everyday moments, from morning coffee to evening meals with family. Dr. Subea Hijazi uses his expertise in gum restoration at TORC Dental to provide lasting solutions that protect exposed roots and eliminate the sharp pain you’ve been enduring.
Your sensitivity issues won’t improve on their own, but professional treatment can resolve them permanently with the right approach. Join our social media community on Facebook and Instagram to see how we’re helping patients achieve healthier, more comfortable smiles every day. Call our team at 512-607-6500 to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward ending tooth sensitivity for good.
FAQs
What causes throbbing pain and temperature sensitivity in a tooth?
Tooth sensitivity typically occurs when the protective enamel wears down or when gums recede, exposing the underlying dentin or tooth roots that contain nerve endings. Common culprits include gum disease, aggressive brushing with hard-bristled toothbrushes, teeth grinding, acidic foods, and natural aging processes. Additional factors like oral piercings, hormonal changes, tobacco use, and dental trauma can also contribute to gum recession and subsequent sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli.
How to cure pain from tooth sensitivity?
Professional treatment offers the most effective long-term solution for tooth sensitivity, with options ranging from fluoride applications and desensitizing agents to gum grafting for recession-related cases. Dr. Hijazi can restore protective coverage over exposed roots through procedures that bond tissue to vulnerable areas, eliminating the source of discomfort rather than just masking symptoms. At-home care with sensitivity toothpaste, gentle brushing techniques, and avoiding acidic foods can complement professional treatment for comprehensive relief.
How to avoid tooth sensitivity?
Preventing tooth sensitivity starts with maintaining excellent oral hygiene using a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle circular motions rather than aggressive scrubbing. Limit consumption of acidic foods and beverages that erode enamel, and rinse with water after consuming them when avoidance isn’t possible. Regular dental checkups allow early detection of gum recession or enamel wear, enabling intervention before sensitivity develops or worsens.
Does tooth sensitivity go away?
Whether tooth sensitivity resolves depends entirely on the underlying cause and how quickly you seek treatment for the problem. Temporary sensitivity from recent dental work often subsides within a few weeks as your tooth adjusts and heals naturally. However, sensitivity caused by gum recession, enamel erosion, or structural damage typically persists and worsens without professional intervention to address the root cause.
How long does tooth sensitivity last?
The duration of tooth sensitivity varies widely based on its cause and whether you pursue treatment to address it properly. Minor sensitivity from whitening treatments or new dental work may last just days to weeks before resolving on its own. Untreated sensitivity from gum recession or enamel loss can persist indefinitely and progressively worsen, while professional treatment like gum grafting can eliminate sensitivity permanently once the area fully heals over several weeks.
