Pain that appears on pressure and disappears when you stop is a useful clue. It usually means something structural or something around the root, rather than general sensitivity.
Classic pattern: sharp pain on release of biting pressure.
A high spot on a filling or crown
The tooth is taking more load than its neighbours.
Inflammation around the root
The ligament is tender; the tooth can feel bruised.
A failing restoration
Movement under load.
Grinding or clenching
Sustained overload makes teeth tender.
Why "it is just sensitive" is worth checking
Bite pain is one of the patterns most likely to reflect a structural problem, and cracks tend to get worse rather than better. Catching one before it propagates below the gum is often the difference between restoring a tooth and losing it.
What we can explain here — and what needs an exam
A page can inform you. It cannot examine you.
We can explain online
Why cracks hurt on release of pressure
How a high spot is identified and adjusted
Why grinding makes teeth tender
Determined after an exam
Whether a crack is present and how far it runs
Whether the tooth is restorable
Whether the nerve is involved
What to do next
Bring the detail of exactly which movement hurts — it helps locate the tooth quickly.
General information reviewed by Mankirat Gill, DDS · August 2026. Not a substitute for an in-person examination. Severe pain, spreading facial swelling, or trouble breathing or swallowing: call us or seek emergency care now.