When you’ve got gum disease, your regular dental cleanings can become a little more intense. Simple scaling isn’t enough. We’ve got to go under the gums to clean and smooth the roots so it’s harder for harmful bacteria to colonize and thrive. This helps your gums heal, tighten up around your teeth, and reduce the depth of the periodontal pockets.
In our office, we add ozone to the mix – supercharged oxygen that works as a safe and natural antimicrobial. Not only does it help disinfect those hard-to-reach places; it stimulates tissue healing, too.
Now, if you’ve had scaling and root planing (SRP) before – the kind of “deep cleaning” described above – you know that it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable, even with anesthetic and general relaxation. We don’t know of anyone who looks forward to it (well, other than this guy). It’s one reason we’ve incorporated a new way of cleaning that’s much gentler yet just as effective as scaling: guided biofilm therapy, or GBT for short.
Suitable for both traditional scaling and periodontal cleaning, GBT starts with a comprehensive exam to check for any decay or gum disease concerns. Then we use a special revealing dye to make the otherwise colorless biofilm (plaque) stand out clearly in your mouth, ensuring we don’t miss any areas during cleaning.
The cleaning itself uses AIRFLOW® technology to deliver a precise mix of warm ozonated water, air, and fine powder that effectively removes biofilm without any harsh scraping. As a patient, you get the best of both worlds: a more comfortable experience and a more thorough cleaning.
And yes, it can even be effective in the treatment of severe periodontitis, as a new study in the European Journal of Dentistry has shown.
Thirty-two patients with advanced periodontitis took part. (This is the stage of gum disease in which tissues, including bone, are damaged and tooth loss becomes more likely.) Some areas of their mouths received GBT; other areas received SRP. After 6 weeks, researchers measured pocket depth in each patient – a process that they repeated after 3 months, as well.
The depth of the spaces between teeth and gums – the pockets – is a common measure of gum disease. Anything below 3mm leans toward health; anything above, gum disease.
Analysis showed that both cleaning methods were effective. After 3 months, the average pocket depth had improved from about 6.2mm to 3.3mm in the GBT group. Results in the SRP group were nearly the same. All together, both methods improved about 84% of the deep pockets.
We’d venture to guess that those patients found the GBT way more comfortable. One survey found that “over 98% of patients reported experiencing no unpleasant pain during treatment or that the pain was less than with conventional treatment.” Ninety-two percent said they preferred it to conventional treatment. Other surveys have had similar results.
Bottom line? Your gums deserve both effective treatment and genuine comfort. GBT delivers both.
