Hello,

I have a new hygienist ( 30 yrs of experience, new to my office @ 1 day per week).....that would like me to order these two supplies for her to use on patients with sensitive teeth. Example patient would be patient with generalized 2-3 mm recession, overall sensitivity, dental fears, comes in for cleanings irregularly, mdr amt of calc on teeth. Cannot use cavitron or hand scale well due to sensitivity.

IMO this patient who is fearful and mildly jumpy and needs periodontal therapy should be anesthetized with local anesthesia and scaling and root planing should be accomplished. I think when pts are numb, the teeth/pockets get cleaned better.

I think this RDH is scared to give anesthesia ......she avoids it at all costs. Instead, she approached me after the patient left and said "You know I used to use these two products at my last office on patients that have very sensitive teeth. It is a gel that you put on with a prophy cup before scaling and the sensitivity is gone and the patient is more comfortable." See photos of the products.

When I did my internet research on these two products, it seems they are used in a whitening tray to help with root sensitivity or post-whitening sensitivity. It seems they need more contact time than just 5 minutes of application prior to scaling.

Thoughts? What do you hygienists use?

I don't want to say no to staff requests, but also don't want to order products that perhaps really don't work well?

Ha Ha oops, one of the attachments is one of my staff at the Seattle Boat Show sorry....it wouldn't delete off the attachments.....