We’ve all had a moment when we cursed at our teeth nerves for being so damn sensitive and painful. But if you’ve ever bitten ...

Until now, the sensory neurons inside the tooth were primarily thought to send pain signals to the brain, but a new study ...

Sensory neurons in teeth that detect pain have also been shown to trigger a jaw-opening reflex that protects teeth.

"The study strongly suggests that extraction of the third molar has a positive long-term, albeit subtle, effect on the function of the lingual taste pathways of some people," Kim said.

In such a condition, the different crests of a molar carry out important biomechanical functions, for example by reinforcing the crown against stresses that occur during the chewing process.