Surgical periodontal treatment of a patient with dentinal hypersensitivity after bariatric surgery: a case report.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this report is to present the clinical case of a patient with severe symptoms of dentinal hypersensitivity after bariatric surgery. A 40-year-old woman had a complaint of hypersensitivity in all teeth after bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity. The patient had multiple sites of gingival recession associated with pain symptoms that were characteristic of dentinal hypersensitivity. Subepithelial connective tissue grafting was performed, using either coronal flap displacement techniques or a tunnel-type approach, at the sites of gingival recession and/or dentinal hypersensitivity. Surgery resulted in gains of keratinized mucosa and root surface coverage as well as regression of pain. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery should be monitored for development of oral health-related complications.