One common affliction that all dental assistants will treat in their lifetime is teeth sensitivity. Many patients come into the dental clinic in a day complaining of a sharp pain in their tooth, often when eating cold or acidic foods. Some describe the pain as if they are a�?biting a forka�?, a shooting sensation straight from the tooth into the gums. While dentists have devised ways to combat this affliction (such as sensitive toothpaste), these fixes are often temporary, and many patients continue to feel pain each time they eat. Now, a group of researchers have discovered a specific product which they believe can help seal in the pain forevera��read on to discover this potential miracle cure.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is often a result of worn away enamel on our teeth. Worn away enamel exposes the roots of the tooth, which contain tiny little tubules which are attached to the tootha��s nerve. Any students who have taken dental assistant training or have attended dental hygienist school will be able to tell quite quickly whether or not a patienta��s enamel has begun to wear away. Signs include a lack of saliva and the presence of plaque on the teeth. Other external causes of tooth sensitivity include:
- Brushing too hard
- Teeth grinding
- Acidic or sugary foods
- A cracked tooth
The Biomaterial Cure
The biomaterial cure was founded by Dr. Chun-Pin Lin and his colleagues at National Taiwan University. While there are many treatments on the market which currently use some form of sealant to prevent hot and cold sensations from reaching the gum nerves, Dr. Lin and his team have made what could be the most reliable sealant yet.
The team crafted their very own fast-acting biocompatible material containing the two elements found in teeth: calcium and phosphorus. This product, applied to the teeth in the form of a paste, was better able to seal the tubules in the teeth better than any other sealant product currently being used by dentists. The product works so effectively because the calcium and phosphorus make their ways into the tubules, and crystalize together into calcium phosphorus, ultimately re-sealing the area.
Other Treatments for Sensitive Teeth
While there are currently several different types of treatments for sensitive teeth, none offer such a positive effect as the biomaterial produced at National Taiwan University. Today, many people use at-home treatments such as desensitizing toothpaste in order to temporarily relieve the pain associated with sensitive teeth. While temporarily effective, desensitizing toothpaste is hardly a long-term solution.
At the dentists, patients may be treated with more complex and longer-lasting procedures, such as a fluoride application, or a surgical gum graft. A gum graft is used when the gums have eroded around a sensitive tooth. The dentist will take excess gum from another area of the mouth, and attach it to the affected site.
Do you think this new biomaterial product will be seen in dental clinics anytime soon?
