Was my dentist too rough on my clean?

[Sandy1212]

Hi, mostly an ITP question but if anyone has experience with extreme pain after a clean i would very welcome your response. (I apologise if it’s a little graphic with blood talk)

So, i got a new dentist as my old one left the office. She didnt know what ITP was (it was on my record) so i explained to her that my immune system destroys my platelets. Do the examination now and she lets me know i have inflamed gums and bleeding so i need a clean. Fine.

I then go onto experience the most PAINFUL cleaning ive ever had. Now i have been told about inflamed gums and bleeding before and cleaning has never been pleasant but this was absolutely awful. I even had to tell her to stop in between because i couldn’t take it anymore! I had originally put the pain down to maybe my gums were a little more inflamed than before and it should ease up soon only to get home and see that a vast majority of my teeth had prominent blood clots around them. Thinking about it now I remember seeing at the corner of my eye the suction tube literally turning red because of the amount of blood in my mouth and the clot i spat out at the end. To this moment i taste blood.

In addition to this, i am in so much pain still. Granted, it is the same day but i would liken this pain to when my wisdom tooth would get infected except its my ENTIRE mouth. I took paracetamol and it barely did anything. Im literally on the brink of tears and dont even think ill get any sleep tonight.

But anyways, does anyone with ITP experience this sort of level of bleeding after a clean? And anyone with any feedback on the pain side of things, does it sound like she was being too rough or could this pain all be down to my inflamed gums?

To note - my PLT count has been fluctuating 50-70. My last PLT count was 51.

[Lynney11]

Sorry to hear about your horrible experience at the hands of a dentist who ought to have known better! When I was diagnosed in 2009 with a count of 80, I was advised never to have a scale and polish at the dentist, unless my count was over 100, to avoid the experience you had. Since then I have not had a scale and polish. Just 2 weeks ago I went for a check up - the first for 3 years, due to Covid - and my teeth were perfectly fine. All I do is clean my teeth twice a day with an electric toothbrush.

[Sandy1212 in reply to Lynney11]

Thanks for your reply! I have never been given any advice when it came to a dentist clean from my drs so ill keep what you’ve said in mind! Do you use any specific toothpaste or is it just a typical one? Want to make sure i avoid needing a clean any time soon lol

[Calliecookins]

No, I have not had that kind of dental pain. My hematologist wants his patients to check with him before going to the dentist. We should get his clearance first. He also wants us to have a platelet count of 100 or more. I’ve never gone to the dentist when my platelet count was below 100.

[Sandy1212 in reply to Calliecookins]

Thank you for responding will take note!