Why Are Teeth Sensitive To Pain?

The teeth are very important structures for chewing and speaking. When worn out, they can be sensitive to pain, which is found to be very uncomfortable.

Teeth are very important for speaking, chewing food and forming the food bolus. They are also important on an aesthetic level. However, teeth are also sensitive to pain, and when they hurt, all of these functions are impaired.

We have all had a toothache at some point in our lives. This warned us that something harmful was happening to our teeth. That is why in this article we will explain the reasons behind the sensitivity of teeth to pain.

The layers of the teeth and the sensitivity to pain

Teeth are made up of three basic parts:

• Root: It is located inside the tooth cavity and is the invisible part of the tooth because it is buried in the alveolar bone. When a tooth is pulled, the root would be the last part.

• Crown: It is the visible part protruding from the alveolar bone.
• Neck: It is the connection between the root and the crown.

At the base of the root is an opening through which the vessels and nerves that supply the teeth pass. They form the so-called pulp chamber . This pulp chamber is protected by a layer of dentine.

Dentin consists of a basic mineral structure, calcium hydroxylapatite. This structure protects the tooth from pollutants from entering the vessels and nerves.

The dentin: the protective layer

The highly specialized odontoblasts, cylindric cells of the tooth tissue, produce the dentin. They are located in the periphery of the pulp and ensure a healthy dentin coat. The processes of the odontoblasts radiate into the dentin through the dentinal tubules. In this way, they are able to repair the dentin in the event of damage, for example due to caries.

But dentin is not enough to protect teeth. An even harder substance is needed to keep the tooth from breaking while chewing or speaking. We are talking about tooth enamel.

Tooth enamel: the hardest layer

Tooth enamel is a very hard layer made entirely of hydroxyapatite. Dentin also consists of this mineral, but in a lower concentration. In addition, it has cavities created by the processes of the odontoblasts, which make it less resistant.

The enamel is white, hard and has a composition of 96% hydroxyapatite. The remaining 4% contain protein and water. It is made by cells called ameloblasts that produce tooth enamel before the tooth comes out.

Once the teeth are on the surface, the ameloblasts degenerate and the enamel never regenerates. We only have this enamel all our lives, so it is important to take care of it.

The cement: the anchoring layer

Around the tooth root, above the dentin, is the cement or root element. The cement is a less hard layer than tooth enamel, which only contains 65% hydroxyapatite.

It consists of two layers. One of these layers does not contain cells and is formed before the tooth comes out. On the other hand, after the eruption of the tooth and due to functional requirements, a cement is formed that has cells that are called cement cells and that form a mineral matrix.

The main function of cement is to anchor the fibers of the periosteum, the layer that covers the bone around the tooth. It is, so to speak, the glue that holds the tooth in the tooth cavity.

Why are teeth sensitive to pain?

With this information on the anatomy of teeth, we can answer that question. The dentin shows enlargements of the osteoblast inside. That is, there is communication between the dentin and the pulp chamber, where the nerve endings are located.

The enamel does not regenerate. Because of this, it can no longer protect dentin, which is more vulnerable to external factors, when it is worn down or destroyed by tooth decay. The dentin cavities then remain open and external stimuli can reach the nerve endings and cause pain.

To prevent this from happening, you need to maintain good dental hygiene, see the dentist every few months, and eat healthily. This is a great way to protect your enamel and underlying dentin.