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Tooth Sensitivity · Henderson, NV

Sensitive Teeth
Treatment in Henderson

A tooth that zings with cold, sweets or a breath of air is telling you something. Usually the inner layer of the tooth, called dentin, has lost its cover from gums pulling back, worn enamel, a cavity or a crack. Dr. Goh finds out which, then seals or protects it.

Book a toothache visit →Call (702) 732-3754
  • Certified Digital Smile Design provider
  • Top Dentist, Las Vegas
  • 27 years in practice
At a glance
Cost
It depends on the cause. A filling is $209 to $361, a night guard $435.
Time
A visit to find the cause comes first.
Insurance
Most PPO plans pay part of the exam and repairs. We check your plan for you. Insurance and payment
What
Finding why a tooth is sensitive, then sealing or protecting it.
Common causes

Four reasons a tooth turns sensitive.

Each one leaves the dentin open in a different way, so each one has a different fix.

01 · Gums

Gums pulling back

When gums recede, the root shows, and roots have no enamel on them, so cold reaches the dentin directly. Gum disease and brushing too hard are common reasons.

Gum care
02 · Wear

Worn enamel

Clenching and grinding wear enamel thin, often at night without you knowing. Acidic food and drink wear it too, and enamel does not grow back.

Night guard
03 · Decay

A cavity or a worn filling

Decay opens a path into the dentin, and so does a gap at the edge of an old filling that has worn down.

Filling
04 · Cracks

A crack

A cracked tooth often twinges when you let go of a bite, because the crack opens under pressure and closes as you release.

Bonding or crown
Why an exposed root makes a tooth sensitiveA side view of a tooth. Enamel covers the crown. On the left the gum covers the root. On the right the gum has pulled back and the root shows. Tiny channels run from that bare root through the inner layer of the tooth to the nerve in the middle, which is how cold reaches the nerve.WHEN A ROOT IS EXPOSEDGUMENAMELNERVETINY CHANNELSEXPOSED ROOTGUM PULLED BACK
Why it zings

Tiny channels lead to the nerve.

Dentin is full of tiny hollow channels that run from the outside of the tooth in toward the nerve. Enamel covers them on the crown, and gum covers them on the root.

When that cover is lost, cold, heat, sweet or sour food can reach the nerve through the channels, and you feel a sharp zing. Every fix works by covering those channels again or closing them.

What we do about it

The fix follows the cause.

Dr. Goh looks at the tooth, your gums and your bite before he suggests anything. A toothpaste can calm mild sensitivity, but it cannot fix a cavity or a crack.

  • At home

    A toothpaste for sensitive teeth used every day, and a soft brush with gentle pressure.

  • In the office

    A fluoride treatment, bonding over an exposed root, a filling, a crown, or a night guard if you clench.

  • Sent to a specialist

    Gum grafting, and a nerve that needs treatment inside the tooth. Dr. Goh tells you if you need one.

Pain that lingers long after the cold is gone, or that wakes you at night, is different from a quick zing. Call us, because it can mean the nerve itself is irritated.

Dr. Irwan Goh, who plans Tooth Sensitivity Treatment care at Smiles by Goh in Henderson
Dr. Irwan Goh, DDS
27 years in practice · solo in Henderson by choice
Your dentist

Dr. Goh plans your care himself.

  • Dental degree, UCSFDoctor of Dental Surgery
  • Certified Digital Smile Design providerSmile plans start from your face
  • At least four more dentists review itEvery Digital Smile Design plan
  • LVI Global graduateAdvanced cosmetic training
  • Academy of Facial EstheticsFace and smile together
  • Top Dentist, Las VegasDesert Companion
Digital dentistry in the office
  • iTero 3D scans
  • CBCT 3D imaging
  • 3D-printed smile previews
  • Invisalign Outcome Simulator

The honest answers.

7 questions
A sudden change usually has a new cause: a cavity, a crack, a filling that wore down, or gums that pulled back. Whitening can also make teeth sensitive for a short time. If one tooth changed quickly, book a visit so Dr. Goh can find out which.
For mild sensitivity, often yes, because it blocks the tiny channels in the dentin or calms the nerve. It usually takes several uses before you notice a change, so use it every day.
It can, for a short time, so we set the gel strength and wear time to your own teeth. Our gels also have potassium nitrate and fluoride built in, and if your teeth already run sensitive, we start gentler.
It can be, because clenching and grinding wear enamel down and leave the dentin closer to the surface. A custom night guard takes that wear at night, but it does not stop the clenching itself.
It can be, since gum disease can make gums pull back and leave roots bare. It often grows without pain, so measuring the gums is how it shows up.
It depends on the cause: a tooth-colored filling is $209 to $361 and a night guard is $435. Dr. Goh writes the price down before he starts.
More questions (1)
Yes, new and existing patients can book, so tell us which tooth it is and what sets it off: cold, sweets or biting.
Book a visit

Find out what is behind it.

Dr. Goh checks the tooth, your gums and your bite, then tells you what is causing the zing. You get the fix and its price in writing.

Open four days a week: Monday to Thursday one week, Tuesday to Friday the next. 8 AM to 5 PM, with an early day on Thursday (7 to 3) or Friday (7 to 1). No evenings or weekends. Call to check which week it is.

Financing available: CareCredit · Cherry · VIP Savings Plan (in-house membership)

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