Oral health is a vital aspect of our overall wellbeing, yet many of us overlook the importance of regular dental care beyond simple brushing, flossing and occasional dental check ups. Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) offers a modern, innovative approach to dental hygiene that focuses on the effective removal of biofilm. Biofilm (also known as plaque) is a complex colony of bacteria that forms on the surfaces of your teeth and gums, often leading to dental issues like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath if not properly managed. GBT provides a more thorough, patient-friendly method to maintain oral health compared to traditional hygienist treatments.
At the Wellesley we are delighted to be able to offer Guided Biofilm Treatments with our EMS Dental Airflow machine. Removing biofilm, stains and young calculus on natural teeth, restorations and dental implants. Cleaning, polishing and improving your teeth in one single, gentle procedure.
Why Guided Biofilm Therapy is better than traditional hygienist treatments
Traditional dental hygiene treatments use scaling and polishing, which can sometimes be uncomfortable for patients and might not completely remove all biofilm. GBT, on the other hand, uses a combination of advanced technologies and techniques to target and eliminate biofilm more effectively and comfortably. Here’s why GBT stands out:
- Precision and thoroughness: GBT employs a special temporary dye to make biofilm visible, ensuring that no area is missed during cleaning. This targeted approach guarantees a more comprehensive removal of harmful bacteria.
- Comfort and safety: The use of air polishing with warm water and gentle powders dispenses with the need for the discomfort and/or scraping associated with traditional scaling treatments, making the process more pleasant for patients.
- Efficiency: GBT typically requires less time to achieve better results, allowing for a more efficient and satisfying dental visit.
- Stain removal: It removes mild to strong staining such as those produced by tea, coffee, smoking or red wine in a minimally invasive way.
- Ideal for use with dental implants: GBT offers a unique approach for regular implant maintenance die to the gentle nature of the treatment.
- Great with orthodontic appliances: Airflow provides 100% accessibility around orthodontic brackets without the need to remove wires, ligatures or elastics.
Watch this video to see the difference between an Airflow GBT treatment and a traditional hygienist methods.
The benefits of Guided Biofilm Therapy
GBT offers a range of benefits that contribute to better oral health and overall patient experience:
- Enhanced oral health: By effectively removing biofilm, GBT helps in preventing cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.
- Improved gum health: GBT’s gentle approach is especially beneficial for gum health, reducing the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Reduced sensitivity: GBT’s gentle, patient-friendly cleaning methods reduce the risk of tooth sensitivity and enamel damage.
- Patient comfort: GBT is less invasive and more comfortable, reducing anxiety and discomfort associated with some traditional dental cleaning methods.
- Personalised care: By dyeing the biofilm to prior to treatment, we are able to show our patients the extent of the issue – and the hidden threat to their oral health – which helps us to educate them about their oral hygiene practices, leading to better at-home care.
Why it’s important to look after your gums as well as your teeth
While most people focus on keeping their teeth clean and white, the health of your gums is equally crucial. Healthy gums provide a foundation for your teeth, and neglecting gum health can lead to serious dental issues. Gum disease, caused by the buildup of biofilm and plaque, can result in inflammation, bleeding, and even tooth loss. Additionally, gum health is linked to overall health, with studies showing connections between gum disease and systemic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, taking care of your gums is essential for maintaining both oral and general health and regular GBT treatments can help achieve this far more effectively than brushing alone.
How Guided Biofilm Therapy works
GBT is a systematic, eight-step approach that ensures the thorough removal of biofilm while maximizing patient comfort and safety. Here’s how it works:
- Assessment: The dental professional examines the patient’s oral health and discusses any concerns.
- Disclosing: A special dye is applied to highlight biofilm on the teeth and gums, making it visible for precise removal.
- Motivation: The patient is educated about the presence of biofilm and proper oral hygiene practices.
- Airflow: Using a combination of warm water, air, and fine powder, biofilm is gently and effectively removed from all surfaces.
- Perioflow: Some patients may also need cleaning below the gumline, in these cases a similar, gentle technique is used to ensure thorough cleaning.
- Piezon PS: If needed we will apply a Piezon tool, which uses warm water to remove any tartar or calculus deposits left between your teeth. This is also a pain-free and non-invasive procedure.
- Check: We re-examine the cleaned areas to ensure all biofilm, calculus and dye have been removed.
- Next Steps: One we are happy that the treatment has been completed to our satisfaction, we will schedule your next appointment and also offer advice on how to maintain your smile and keep up the good work between appointments!
Ready to try GBT for yourself?
We have been using Airflow GBT here at the Wellesley for several years now. Our patients are always astonished with the results and we think you will be too! Here’s what some of our patients are saying about GBT at the Wellesley:
“Amazing revolutionary hygroscopic teeth cleaning. Brilliant thanks you so much guys. A real Hollywood clean.” – Armand
“Wonderful experience and excellent team. Went to have GBT for the 1st time and I must say that I will never have a normal scale and polish again. This is the best you can do for your teeth…it’s so gentle and seeing my teeth bright straight away after treatment felt like money well spent. Thank you Wellesley for my beautiful bright smile.” – Ela
“Excellent practice. Their new hygienist who uses a water jet instead of a metal scraper is especially good.” – Simon
Ready to give GBT a go? Your teeth and gums will thank you for it! Give us a call on 020 8994 9292 to book an appointment or use our online booking system to book yourself a spot (you can use this even if you’ve never visited us before!) and do let us know what you think!
