Teeth Grinding--Tooth Sensitivity

Question

I've been having a really sensitive tooth that my dentist has been keeping an eye on. This morning I woke up and when I put the water in my mouth to brush my teeth I got a sharp shock. My tooth was really sensitive to the cool water. All day, it's been sensitive when I drink and when air passes over it.

I made an appointment with my Endodontist to see if I need a root canal since the dentist said there's no cavitiy. The Endodontist says he think I'm grinding my teeth. I don't understand how this can cause sensitivity to my tooth, especially only to one. To me, it seems if I was grinding my teeth more than one would be sensitive.

Has anyone ever experiences this before? Do you also think that it's teeth griding rather than a need for a root canal?

**He took x-rays also. Would he have absolutely seen that I needed a root canal with this? Or is there a chance he missed it and I really need one and I shouldn't be experiencing this pain?

Answer 1

Sounds like you are in good hands.....trust what they tell you as they are looking at your mouth, and tooth, and have a better grasp on what is happening......

Answer 2

If they have taken x-rays they almost always catch the need for a Root canal especially. It's not easy to miss that. It might be easy to miss a cavity because sometimes those are not as apparent, especially if you say it is only one tooth, Maybe there is an occlusion problem where the tooth on top of it is not siting right from the over grinding. In such an instance you want to have your dentist have the tooth on top maybe shaved down slightly to stop causing pressure in a certain point of the tooth in pain? i worked at a dentists for over two years as an assistant.