What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?
While traditional dental hygiene methods tend to be a bit invasive and uncomfortable, there is a new and effective method that is taking the industry by storm: Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT).
Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is an intelligent, minimally invasive, and detailed system that is designed to help dental professionals efficiently disrupt and remove dental biofilm (otherwise known as plaque) with the use of powerful yet gentle airflow jets.
GBT is administered with the use of the EMS Airflow system.
Here at Forward Dental Care, we are dedicated to helping our patients maintain ideal oral health while ensuring their comfort and peace of mind during treatment. That’s why we are proud to offer Guided Biofilm Therapy.
Below are the 8 steps that come along with the ground-breaking GBT system:
- Assessment
To begin, your dentist or dental hygienist will perform a thorough preliminary check of your teeth and gums.
- Disclosing
EMS Biofilm Discloser is applied directly to the teeth. Thanks to the discloser solution, biofilm (also known as plaque) becomes visible. This ensures targeted treatment and provides a visual motivation for the patient.
- Motivate
Your dentist or hygienist will invite you to take a look at your teeth. You will see that areas of concern will be clearly marked with the disclosing solution.
Having a strong and clear visual can be extremely beneficial for many patients; being able to physically see where harmful biofilm resides on the surface of the teeth can help you better understand the importance of your hygiene treatment, and can help you feel more involved in the process as a whole.
Your dental professional will take this opportunity to provide you with information about the health of your teeth and tips for better oral hygiene.
- AIRFLOW®
Next comes what is known as “the dental spa”. The AIRFLOW® device will be used to gently yet effectively disrupt and remove all signs of biofilm and stains using a powerful yet gentle jet stream of water.
With the help of the disclosing solution, your dental professional can ensure that it has all been successfully removed – no chance for even the smallest bit of biofilm left behind.
Why choose Guided Biofilm Therapy?
So, what makes Guided Biofilm Therapy such an impressive improvement on traditional dental hygiene treatment methods?
Guided Biofilm Therapy provides a minimally-invasive and remarkably f Guided Biofilm Therapy boasts a number of notable benefits. It is important to keep in mind that this method of hygienic treatment is vastly superior to the methods used in the past; it places a core focus on patient comfort and the complete elimination of biofilm, stains, and calculus.
Below are some benefits of Guided Biofilm Therapy:
- Guaranteed complete removal of biofilm and calculus (no spots left untreated thanks to the intelligent disclosing solution)
- Minimally-invasive treatment
- Significantly faster than traditional periodontal cleaning methods
- Enjoy a more comfortable and relaxing experience from start to finish
- Patients can enjoy feeling more involved with their treatment
- Eliminate the need for the administration of local anaesthetic for discomfort or pain
- Improved oral health
- Improved overall health
- Cavity prevention
- Gum disease prevention/prevent pre-existing gum disease from progressing
Dental Anxiety and GBT
If you find yourself feeling extremely scared or nervous prior to a dental visit, you are certainly not alone. Over 50% of adults in the UK experience some sort of fear or anxiety surrounding the dentist; with health being one of the leading causes of anxiety in adults.
Dental anxiety can be caused by a number of different factors, including:
- Negative or traumatizing prior experience with the dentist
- Fear of dental instruments
- Embarrassment about the current health of the teeth (fear of being judged)
- Fear of injections/shots
- Generalized fear of dentists and other medical practitioners (White Coat Syndrome)
- Fear of the loss of control during dental treatment
- Fear of pain or discomfort
No matter the cause of your dental anxiety, GBT has the potential to completely change the way you feel about the dentist.
This intelligent system permits a pain-free, relaxing, and quick experience from start to finish. To begin your treatment, your dentist or dental hygienist will apply the disclosing solution and allow you to physically see the spots where biofilm is present. This typically provides a sense of involvement and security for even the most anxious patients.
Gone are the days of sharp or noisy dental hygiene instruments; many patients compare the AIRFLOW® system to a comfortable and relaxing spa treatment. Before you know it, your treatment will be finished and you will be free to leave with your sparkling-clean smile.
How can Guided Biofilm Therapy help prevent gum disease?
Known clinically as periodontitis, gum disease is a chronic infection that occurs in the gum tissues. Traditionally, the best way to treat gum disease was a series of deep cleanings – otherwise known as scaling and root planings (SRP). This process consists of a deep cleaning above and below the gums, that can be quite uncomfortable for the patient.
Guided Biofilm Therapy provides a gentle alternative, helping patients maintain a healthy oral environment without compromising on comfort or effectiveness.
Healthy Mouth = Healthy Body
While we certainly love to see you for your check-up and cleaning appointments, there is a much bigger reason that we stress the importance of maintaining your oral hygiene and returning for all of your regularly scheduled visits.
Oral health has a direct connection to the health of the rest of your body. In fact, gum disease has been linked to the following:
- Heart disease: Gum disease (periodontitis) is a chronic infection of the gum tissues. If left untreated, the infection may potentially travel through the bloodstream to the heart. This creates an increased risk of heart disease, endocarditis, and heart attack.
- Increased risk of stroke: Hardened arteries are known to be a possible side effect of gum disease. This may increase the risk of stroke.
- Premature birth/low birth weight: Just as bacteria can enter the bloodstream and pose harm to the heart, they may also potentially travel through the bloodstream to target a developing fetus, as well. A recent study has concluded that women with periodontitis were 6 times more likely to experience premature birth or give birth to a child with low birth weight.
- Diabetes: Gum disease has been linked to an increase in blood sugar levels. When left uncontrolled and untreated, high blood sugar levels can cause the development of diabetes.
When you come for your dental cleaning in our Martock clinic, you are not only maintaining your oral health; you are ensuring that you are keeping the rest of your body healthy, as well.
The use of Guided Biofilm Therapy helps ensure that the mouth is as clean as possible, both above and below the gum line. Comprehensive oral hygiene starts here.
Dental Implant Cleaning with GBT
To ensure the longevity of your dental implants, it is crucial to keep them clean. Harmful bacteria has the potential to cause implants to become loose – and ultimately fail.
GBT provides your dental professional with the ability to thoroughly clean the implant area, helping with the prevention of peri-implantitis (infection of the tissues surrounding the implant).
Keeping the area clean also ensures that harmful bacteria is not able to linger below the gum line, posing a risk to the health of the bone that holds the implant in place.
Orthodontic Cleaning with GBT
Many patients with braces find that it can be a bit difficult to thoroughly clean the teeth. In some cases, it can even be a difficult task for your dental professional.
GBT enables the complete removal of biofilm and calculus without damaging the orthodontic appliance. The use of the disclosing solution allows your dentist or dental hygienist to locate areas of concern; this ultimately helps aid in the prevention of white spots and cavities in hard-to-reach places.
