AboutMark Bornfeld DDS Expertise I can respond to all questions dealing with the practice of dentistry, from both the dentist`s and patient`s perspective. I am knowledgeable about all dental disciplines, from cosmetic dentistry to surgery, from restorative dentistry to root canal treatment. I have strong opinions about controversial issues in dental practice, including those topics which directly impact on the reputation of the profession in the eyes of both the lay public and our health profession colleagues.
Experience
Past/Present clients Editor, Queens County Academy of General Dentistry newsletter; contributor to Dentistry.com 29 years practicing general dentistry partnered with brother Steve as one-half of the DentalTwins®
My husband had root planing and scraping one month ago, and seems to be
healing satisfactorily. He will be having flap surgery in one quadrent two
months from now.
My question is, may he proceed with teeth whitening at home? He uses a
custom mold and 9.5% daywite solution. He wishes to continue whitening,
will this be all right for his gums and teeth?
Thank you for considering this question,
Diana
Answer Dear Diana,
The wisdom of continuing with the whitening is uncertain, and will depend on your husband's tolerance of the side effects.
The most common adverse reaction to bleaching gel is tooth sensitivity; this may occur even under optimal conditions. However, with the root exposure that commonly follows periodontal flap surgery, this side effect can be expected to be more profound.
So, your husband should let his symptoms be his guide. There is nothing about periodontal surgery that would unequivocally preclude whitening treatments, but one most be sensible-- if the teeth become so sensitive that they respond painfully to normal dental activity, then the use of whiteners would seem to be unwise. This tendency for sensitivity is highly variable, so it's impossible to predict just how big a problem this will be. There is only one way to find out, and that's to try it at least once.
Hope this helps...
Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
