Is Desensitising Toothpaste Enough?
The answer depends on what lies beneath the sensitivity.
What the toothpaste does and does not do
These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or similar, which reduces the nerve ending's response — muting the signal. For general sensitivity from exposed roots or thinned enamel that genuinely helps. But it neither halts decay, seals a crack nor renews a leaking margin.
When to look beyond the toothpaste
- If the sensitivity is focused on one tooth
- If pain lingers for minutes after the stimulus
- If it arises spontaneously or worsens at night
- If there is sharp pain on releasing a bite
- If weeks of toothpaste have changed nothing
- If there is gum swelling or a bad taste in that area
What to do alongside the toothpaste
Left alone, the underlying mechanical causes continue. Switching to a soft brush and relying on technique reduces recession and therefore sensitivity. Not brushing straight after acidic food matters too, and professionally applied fluoride gives a lasting contribution.
Getting Here, Booking and Emergencies from Karsiyaka
Route, booking and emergency arrangements for patients from Karsiyaka.
Getting here from Karsiyaka
Karşıyaka lies in the Kepez district of Antalya; Kepez is one of the central districts, about 6 kilometres from the clinic. We also see patients from neighbouring areas that share the route from Karsiyaka, such as Fabrikalar, Gülveren, Kepez, Menderes. You can ask for the location on WhatsApp when travelling from Karsiyaka.
Appointments for Karsiyaka
At this distance, splitting treatment into visits is no problem for patients from Karşıyaka, and attending reviews is easy too. As with patients from Kepez generally, appointments for families from Karsiyaka can be scheduled consecutively.
Emergencies from Karsiyaka
Setting out from Karşıyaka at night is quick; come without delay in an emergency, and calling as you leave means preparation is done in advance. For patients coming from Dental Clinic in Karsiyaka, the clinic is open 24/7 and in an emergency the order is set by severity rather than arrival time. For spreading facial swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or toothache with fever, go to the nearest emergency department.
When Cone Beam CT Is Needed
CT is not needed for every patient, but where it is, it gives information no flat film can. The deciding question is whether a two-dimensional image is enough to make the decision.
Why the third dimension matters
Depth is lost in a flat film: the thickness of the bone, the exact position of the nerve and the direction in which a lesion extends cannot be seen. In implant planning the width of the bone matters as much as its height, and that can only be measured on cross-sections. Likewise, an impacted tooth's relationship to an adjacent root becomes clear only in three dimensions.
The main indications
CT is usually requested for these questions:
- Bone volume and the position of anatomical structures before an implant
- The relationship of an impacted wisdom tooth to the lower jaw nerve
- The position of an impacted canine and its effect on adjacent roots
- Defining the boundaries of cysts and lesions
- Searching for a missed canal in a failed root canal
- Assessing the jaw joint and suspected fractures
Balancing dose and justification
The dose from CT is higher than from a panoramic, so it is not used for routine screening. Every CT should have a specific question to answer, and that question should be explained to you. The field of view is limited to the region of interest, which both reduces dose and improves resolution.
