Horrible - Beware - Charlotte, NC
I just went to the dentist and had the zoom...
I just went to the dentist and had the zoom whitening done. It was horrible pain from being to end. (4-15 minute treatments) I wasn't smart enough to tell them to stop as I figured I would be OK and what is a hour of pain if my teeth were white and beautiful. (I'm getting front crowns replaced so needed the treatment prior to insert) Well let me tell you my gums literally melted off. YES melted. The next morning the gums(mucus) covered on my entire front teeth and i had to pull them off. Yes, that's right I had to pull the melted/burnt part of my gums off as you could not even see my teeth. Pain is not the word. It is horrible. I had this done before and it hurt, but this time ALL of my gums are totally burned. This can NOT be safe. Just the open wounds alone can cause a horrible infection. I still can't eat without extreme pain and it's the third day. I am rinsing with a luke warm salt water solution to help the healing process and putting floride and sensitive solution on my gums. Make sure if you have this done that they know what they are doing. It was not this bad the first time (at a different dentist 5 years ago). The first time I had some electric type shocks in my bottom front teeth and only mild gum burning. Also my teeth are not as white as the first time I did it. It was NOT worth it this time. I will NEVER have this done again. One good thing that did come out of it is that I have stopped smoking as the smoke causes EXTREME pain and I'm worried about infection. So if you want to look at it that way..., nope not even looking at it that way is it worth it.
Replies (11)
I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience with zoom whitening. Unfortunately, not all dental offices are properly trained in performing the zoom procedure. Performing the procedure for an hour without properly instructing the patient on what to expect is not correct. Before making an appointment for zoom, I recommend reading online reviews and asking the dental office how many zoom whitening procedures they performed last month. In our Manhattan office we perform over 2,500 zoom whitenings a year. patients are carefully instructed beforehand on exactly how the procedure works and are monitored at all times during the procedure. Complications such as the one you describe are extremely rare in our office. I honestly cannot remember last time we had such an issue. I hope you feel much better soon. Regards, Peter Mann DDS
Oh mysh! That's horrible. This dentist's office should be reported. What might help to speed your healing buy an aloe vera plant leaf (I get them from my local super market about $5 and great for you skin) and take a q-tip or very clean fingers and rub the gooey substance in the leaf across your gums. Give it a few seconds to absorb into the gums and rinse with water, as it has a bitter taste. Aloe vera has incredible pain stopping and healing properties that's why it's used for burns. Next do the same with olive oil but you don't have to rinse after. Olive oil will coat your gums and the nutrients and vitamin e will also aid in speeding up the healing. This really does help! Get well soon!
Wow, the sore on your upper gums looks very uncomfortable. :( I'm so sorry you are having to deal with so much discomfort.
Good for you for quitting smoking during this - keep it up. Let that be the good that comes out of this bad experience. You deserve something good out of it!