Pain on dentin

The majority of pain that occurs in the dentin is caused by caries. The caries “eats” its way from the outside to the inside. It develops on the outermost layer, the enamel, and progresses gradually.

Once the caries has reached the dentine, it is not reversible and must be treated to prevent it from increasing. Due to its softer structural properties, caries can spread faster in dentin than in enamel, which increases the risk of pulp infection. Once the bacteria have reached the dentine, the pain stimuli are transmitted to the pulp and the brain through the nerves located in the dentine, resulting in toothache.

This pain can develop during chewing, eating, but also without reason and can assume very severe proportions. Therapeutically, the only way to treat this is to remove the caries and fill the defect with a filling material. Furthermore, pain can occur in the dentin when it is exposed.

This phenomenon occurs primarily at the necks of the teeth, when the gums are pulled up by brushing too forcefully and the dentin is no longer covered with gum. As a result, stimuli of all kinds, much more intense and direct, arrive and produce pain stimuli, as the region is very sensitive. Wedge-shaped defects on the necks of the teeth are also caused by grinding and pressing and erosion by too much acid.

Diseases: What happens when the dentin is exposed?

If the dentin is exposed, unpleasant symptoms arise for the patient. The dentine canals are now directly on the surface and the stimuli reaching the tooth are now directly on the nerve fibres. Normally the enamel or gum is the protective layer that weakens an incoming stimulus before it reaches the dentine and nerves.

Due to the lack of protection, the stimulus is felt more strongly and intensively. Patients perceive thermal stimuli and pain stimuli as lightning strikes, which are very unpleasant. Exposed dentin can have several causes.

Too much pressure on the posterior and anterior teeth can stimulate the gums to pull themselves up. The necks of the teeth are exposed and are much more sensitive to stimuli. Even the mere drawing of cold air through the oral cavity can trigger a painful stimulus.

Furthermore, grinding and pressing during the night can cause abrasion due to the strong chewing pressure on the teeth, which exposes the dentin. Another cause is acidic food, which, if consumed in excess, gradually dissolves the enamel and manifests itself as erosion. Erosions are also possible due to frequent vomiting in the eating disorder form bulimia.

In this case, the caustic stomach acid constantly comes into contact with the enamel of the teeth and gradually dissolves it, which is why the dentin may be exposed. Dentin can also be exposed if abrasive toothpaste with a whitening effect is used too often, which rubs the enamel off. This phenomenon can also occur if teeth are whitened too often.