Do you feel sharp pain when biting down or chewing your food? Does it go away when you stop chewing? If so, you may be experiencing tooth sensitivity to chewing or pressure, which may be an indication of a cracked tooth, decay, or other dental problems. If you notice pain when chewing, you need to schedule an appointment with Dr. James Wright at our Salt Lake City, UT office. He offers a variety of different restorative dentistry treatments to repair damage and eliminate tooth sensitivity.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity When Chewing?

There are several potential causes for this type of tooth sensitivity. The only way to determine the cause is to see Dr. Wright for an exam. If you experience pain in a tooth when you bite down or chew, it could be caused by:

• A cracked tooth
• An infection
• Minor injuries, such as a chip
• Poor-fitting restorations, such as a filling or crown

If you have a cracked tooth, you may feel sharp pain only when you bite down a certain way. In other cases, you may not experience any pain at all. Even if your pain is inconsistent, it is important to schedule an appointment to have the tooth looked at by Dr. Wright. A cracked tooth can lead to decay, infection, and other complications if not addressed in a timely manner.

You may experience more constant pain with an infection, with the pain worsening when you chew. Tooth infections are serious and require prompt treatment to prevent the infection from spreading to the gums, bone, surrounding teeth, and blood stream.

Treatments for Tooth Sensitivity

The treatment needed will depend on the cause of the sensitivity. If the pain is caused by a poor-fitting restoration, Dr. Wright can make some adjustments or replace the restoration. Treatments for infected and cracked teeth are a bit more intensive.

When caught early, Dr. Wright can repair a cracked tooth with a filling or dental crown. These restorations are available in natural looking shades, customized to match your smile. A filling or crown will reinforce and strengthen your tooth structure while protecting it from bacteria and additional damage.

If you have an infection, you may need root canal treatment. This treatment will eliminate the infection from the tooth to prevent it from spreading. Then, Dr. Wright can restore the tooth with a custom crown.

In serious cases, when treatment is not sought early enough, Dr. Wright may have to extract the tooth. Although this is a possibility, he will do everything he can to save your tooth and avoid extraction. If he has to remove the tooth, he can recommend several different replacement options to ensure you have full function of your smile.

Don’t Wait to Schedule an Appointment

The sooner you seek treatment, the sooner Dr. Wright can repair your tooth and eliminate your pain. Contact Eagle Gate Dental today to schedule your appointment and restore your oral health to an optimal state.