Most people love the super clean feeling after having their teeth professionally cleaned. Far fewer love the actual experience of having their teeth scraped. It can be uncomfortable. The sound in your head can seem like nails on a chalkboard.
For some people, that makes an easy excuse to avoid the two yearly checkups we recommend for adults with healthy mouths. (Got gum disease? More frequent visits for deep cleanings are needed until the health of the gums improves.)
But those cleanings are important. They’re the only way to remove tartar/calculus (hardened plaque) and the most thorough way to clean below the gumline. In an office like ours, it’s also an opportunity for ozone therapy, which can help heal diseased tissues and keep harmful bacteria in check.
And that’s what oral hygiene is really all about: maintaining a healthy bacterial balance, with more of the “good bugs” than the bad.
Recently, we implemented a new approach to cleanings to make this happen in a more comfortable, minimally invasive way – a systematic, predictable approach to dental cleaning called Guided Biofilm Therapy.
“Biofilm” is the technical term for plaque, a microbial community held together in a sticky matrix that clings to oral surfaces. By targeting and breaking up that biofilm, Guided Biofilm Therapy – GBT for short – helps prevent the formation of tartar, which can lead to gum disease and other oral health issues.
GBT starts with a thorough exam to identify any areas of decay or signs of gum disease. Then we turn to the biofilm, which is colorless and hard to see with the naked eye. So we apply a special dye to your teeth to make it visible and ensure no areas are missed during cleaning.
The actual cleaning process involves AIRFLOW® technology, which combines a steady stream of warm ozonated water, air, and fine powder to gently remove the biofilm from your teeth. Since there’s no direct contact, this technique is much gentler than traditional scaling, making it especially good for patients with sensitive teeth or dental anxiety.
Not only does GBT make the whole cleaning process much more pleasant for you; it ensures a more thorough cleaning, even in hard-to-reach places. It’s also great for removing coffee, tea, and other staining.
Cleaning deep periodontal pockets and around implants is also easier thanks to the special nozzles and instruments we can attach to the unit. This is critical for improving gum health and reducing the risk of periodontitis (advanced gum disease) and peri-implantitis (chronic infection of the tissues around a dental implant).
In the video below, you can see for yourself how GBT results compare to traditional scaling. (Note to the squeamish, though: There’s some blood involved during the scaling.)
The precise and thorough removal of biofilm and stains not only enhances oral health but also improves the appearance of the teeth, contributing to a brighter smile. The systematic approach of GBT also helps in maintaining the health of dental restorations and implants, ensuring their longevity.
Overall, Guided Biofilm Therapy represents a significant advancement in dental hygiene, offering a more comfortable, efficient, and effective way to maintain optimal oral health.
