What is Frictional Dental Hypersensitivity (FDH)?
Theoretically, too much muscle force applied to opposing teeth, in time, decreases the threshold whereby a patient perceives cold sensitivity in their teeth. Applying computer-guided occlusal excursive therapy to such a patient, with confirmed stable and adapted TM joints, increases the threshold whereby they perceive sensitivity, essentially decreasing their painful sensitivity experience during the consumption of cold foods and drinks. There are neurological reasons for this change, which typically occurs during the computer-directred occlusal treatment visit on the typical muscular TMD patient. A combination of trigeminal and sympathetic nerve inputs are likely responsible for this change. It is blatantly obvious that FDH is a common problem for dental patients, and that a bite timing discrepancy is usually the reason why teeth remain hypersensitive after dental work or orthodontic tooth movements. There are even times when computer-directed occlusal therapy may eliminate the need for root canal therapy in chronically hypersensitive teeth after restorative dental work!