Garak Market Station Dental Clinic - Sensitive Teeth Are Not Just a Sign of Aging

Hello. I’m Shin Seung-hwan, the chief dentist at Yonsei Uline Dental Clinic, Garak Market Station branch, near Garak-dong, Songpa-gu.

Today, I’d like to talk about the causes of tooth wear and tooth sensitivity.

Many people think it is simply a problem that comes with aging, but in reality, various factors work together, including the material covering the tooth, the condition of the gums, and lifestyle habits.

First, one of the major causes of tooth wear is the material characteristics of dental prosthetics.

In the past, a material called “PFM” was commonly used, which had metal on the inside and porcelain on the outside.

Porcelain has excellent translucency and color, so it looks aesthetically pleasing, but the problem is that its surface is very hard.

It often ends up wearing down the opposing natural tooth instead.

Simply put, it is similar to “sharpening a knife on a whetstone.” When tooth-to-tooth contact is repeated, the porcelain gradually grinds down the opposing tooth, so over time, your own tooth becomes worn.

So if a tooth feels unusually sharp or rough when touched with your tongue, it may already be a sign that wear has progressed.

In particular, if the opposing tooth is covered with the older porcelain material, it would be a good idea to consider replacing it at some point.

At present, zirconia is widely used.

Zirconia has high strength and a smooth surface, so it minimizes wear on the opposing tooth.

It is regarded as a much more stable material than existing porcelain.

Next, another symptom many people report is a sensitive feeling as the gums recede.

Some people worry, “I heard scaling makes the gums recede even more?” but in fact, it is the opposite.

Scaling is a treatment that removes tartar attached to the teeth.

Once the tartar is removed, you may temporarily feel sensitivity, but if tartar is left in place, the gums swell and inflammation develops, eventually causing the bone to begin dissolving.

When the gums repeatedly swell and inflame, the gums gradually recede, and eventually the teeth may become loose or even fall out. That is why scaling is a treatment that removes the cause of gum recession; it is not a treatment that makes the gums recede further.

Even if sensitivity appears after treatment, it is temporary, so you need to keep up with ongoing care.

There are also cases where a tooth feels sore or sharp every time you chew, yet it looks perfectly fine on the outside.

In such cases, there may be a microcrack—a small crack in the tooth that is not easily visible.

Teeth are not completely flat; they have an uneven structure. When repeated force is applied to these areas, sideward spreading forces are created.

This can be more severe in people who grind their teeth or frequently chew hard foods.

It may not be easy to see with the naked eye, but when photographed with a dental magnification camera, these microcracks are often visible.

If the area is dried with a stream of air, it may become clearly visible.

In such cases, depending on the situation, protective treatment such as conservative treatment or crown treatment may be necessary to protect the microcrack.

In the end, the reasons teeth wear down or become sensitive are not simply due to age, but because of a combination of factors such as the materials used in past prosthetics, gum inflammation, and repeated pressure or habits.

If your tongue feels a sharp edge, or if sore and sharp sensations keep recurring, don’t just brush it off as “I guess I’m just sensitive” and instead get a detailed checkup at a dental clinic.

Early diagnosis and proper management are the most reliable ways to keep your teeth healthy for a long time.