What Causes a Tooth to Suddenly Become Sensitive to Hot and Cold?

July 21, 2012 alexnguyen

This is a question that just came to me today. Here are just two examples of possible causes:

1. Obvious large/extensive decay which exposes the hot and cold food/beverages to the nerve inside the tooth.

2. Bite trauma. Excess pressure on a tooth when biting can cause the tooth to become sensitive to hot and cold. Grinding/clenching your teeth in your sleep can traumatize the bedding of nerves surrounding the root of your tooth. Following the episode of bite trauma, the tooth usually needs some time to recover, and the sensitivity can go away. However, repeated uncontrolled bite trauma to a tooth can cause the nerve inside the tooth to die, leading to the need for a root canal treatment.

If you experience consistent hot and cold sensitivity with your teeth, then be sure to bring it to your dentist's attention before the problem becomes more involved.

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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.

What to Do When an Inlay Falls Out ?

July 14, 2012 alexnguyen

I know this is totally random, but do you know any place I can buy some adhesives to attach an metal inlay back to a tooth? The inlay is either Au-Ag-Pd alloy or nickel chrome alloy... An inlay is a restoration made to fit the space in the tooth where a typical filling would occupy. Sometimes inlays are chosen over fillings because they are stronger, and depending on the extent of the decay they may adapt to the tooth better than a filling. An inlay can be made out of porcelain or a type of metal such as a gold alloy mix.

My answer to the patient's question above was:

Temporary pastes are available at the drug store, but they do not work very well long term.

When an inlay falls out, it could be due to two possible causes:

1. There is decay underneath the inlay. If this is the case, cementing the inlay back will not work long term because the decay is soft and has moisture.

2. The bite force is causing the inlay to debond from the tooth structure. If this is true, then you will have problems with other teeth and not just this inlay.

I would recommend having it checked by a dentist as soon as you can to determine the best course of action. In the mean time, you should leave the inlay in the tooth so that the adjacent tooth will not move into the empty space.

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Alex Nguyen DDS on Yelp!

June 13, 2012 alexnguyen

Out of curiosity, I clicked on my Yelp reviews page today and discovered that we currently rank number one on the Best of Yelp list for Saratoga. What a pleasure to receive such positive feedbacks from our patients. In fact, we have the privilege to service patients from all over, and not just from the nearby community.

Compliments motivate us to continue working hard to deliver outstanding service to our patients. We are grateful for your trust, and we look forward to many years of care with you!

Is the Gum Contour Crucial in Creating a Better Smile?

May 20, 2012 alexnguyen

I was recently asked this question following a consultation I did for a patient. A front tooth is beautiful not only because of the white part of the tooth, but also because of how the pink gum tissue drapes around the neck of the tooth. In your smile, there should be a harmonious proportion which flows from the front teeth to the back teeth.

For people whose front teeth have been traumatized, often time the lip line is unconsciously restrained to limit the display the front teeth. If we do not plan for proper gum contouring to create the right proportion and gum tissue drape for the front teeth; when you are happy with the new teeth and begin to smile more openly, then the gum line may throw off the otherwise-could be perfect smile line.

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Things about Teeth that can Stress You Out !

April 28, 2012 alexnguyen

This patient had TMJ problem. She went to see a "TMJ Specialist" who does orthodontics. This is how her teeth look at the completion of the orthodontic treatment. Everything looks nice and straight from the front, and the smile is beautiful. However, when you take a closer look at the back teeth - She's missing teeth contacts in the molar areas on both sides of the mouth. With this much spacings in between the teeth, the patient would have to exert extra forces as she tries to chew her food. That in turn takes a toll on the chewing muscles, excessively stresses her joints, and defeats the original reason of her visit to a "TMJ Specialist".

Front Teeth after Orthodontic Treatment:

Back Teeth after Orthodontic Treatment:

Before choosing a "dental specialist". It is important to understand what your problem is, how the problem can be fixed, and what to anticipate at the end of the treatment. The last things about teeth that you would want to deal with may be things that can stress you out !

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