Have you heard your dental hygienist or dentist mention guided biofilm therapy (GBT) but weren’t sure exactly what it entailed? You’re not alone—GBT is a new, innovative treatment option in dental hygiene.
GBT is a method of cleaning teeth that focuses on eliminating biofilm, the bacterial layer on your teeth responsible for tooth decay. GBT aims to be gentler than traditional dental cleanings while delivering a deep clean, so your mouth is happy and biofilm-free.
What Is Guided Biofilm Therapy?
Guided biofilm therapy (GBT) is a professional teeth cleaning and oral hygiene method that focuses on eliminating biofilm, a sticky bacterial layer often responsible for tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
Unlike traditional cleanings that may feel harsh or invasive, GBT is designed to be a gentler, more thorough approach emphasizing patient comfort and efficiency.
How Does GBT Work?
Guided biofilm therapy typically consists of eight steps tailored to target biofilm while protecting teeth and gums.
Here's how the process works:
1. Assessment
Your dental professional begins by examining your teeth and gums, looking for signs of plaque buildup, cavities, or gum disease. They may also ask about your oral hygiene habits and guide you on areas that need improvement.
2. Making Biofilm Visible
A disclosing solution is applied to your teeth to highlight biofilm buildup. This dye visibly marks problem areas, giving you and your hygienist a clear view of what needs attention.
3. Patient Education
Using the disclosed biofilm as a teaching tool, your dental hygienist explains where you may be missing during brushing and flossing. It’s not about pointing fingers—it’s about helping you refine your technique to maintain a healthy smile at home.
4. Removing Biofilm & Cleaning Your Teeth
GBT uses EMS Airflow Technology, which combines air, water, and a fine powder to clean the biofilm and dye off of your teeth. Think of it as scrubbing biofilm off your teeth, rather than scraping it off, as with scaling.
5. Removing Biofilm From Under the Gums
Biofilm doesn’t just affect your teeth, it’s also been linked to gum disease. Because of this, the next step of GBT is to clean biofilm out from under the gums. A specialized Perioflow tool is used to disrupt biofilm in the pockets of your gums, leaving them cleaner.
6. Remove Remaining Calculus
Hardened plaque on your teeth can lead to gum disease. After the biofilm has been cleaned from your teeth, your dental hygienist will scale away plaque using ultrasonic scaling technology. Since most biofilm should be gone by this stage, the scaling process is typically less invasive than traditional dental cleaning.
7. Final Diagnosis
Once the cleaning process is completed, your dental hygienist will do a final check of your teeth before sending you home. They may also provide follow-up instructions for maintaining your oral hygiene at home and recommend when to schedule your next appointment.
8. Scheduling Your Next Appointment
Just like traditional cleanings, you must keep up with your GBT appointments to maintain oral health. Since everyone’s oral needs are different, you should always follow your dentist or dental hygienist’s recommendation about how frequently you should be scheduling traditional or GBT dental cleanings.
Benefits of Guided Biofilm Therapy
What makes GBT a good option for you? Here are some reasons why you may benefit from GBT cleanings:
1. Gentle on Teeth and Gums
GBT uses Airflow and Perioflow technologies, which are specifically designed to be more gentle than traditional dentistry tools. These technologies can be a good alternative for people who have sensitive gums or experience frequent bleeding during routine dental cleanings.
2. Education-Focused
GBT emphasizes not just cleaning but also education. Using dyes to show where biofilm accumulates can help create awareness about what areas of the mouth require more attention when brushing. This allows patients to focus their brushing and flossing efforts when caring for their teeth at home.
3. Dental Cleanings with Braces
Braces or aligners make cleaning difficult. Perioflow tools are specifically made to be better for cleaning around brackets, wires, or tight aligner spaces than traditional dental cleaning tools.
Is Guided Biofilm Therapy Right for You?
GBT is suitable for most people, from children to adults.
You may be a candidate for GBT if:
- Your dentist recommends you try GBT.
- You have gum sensitivities and your dentist believes it will be gentler on your gums than traditional cleaning tools.
- You have braces and your dentist or orthodontist believes that Perioflow tools could clean around your braces better than traditional dental tools.
- You are uncomfortable with the sensations caused by traditional dental cleaning tools and your dentist thinks GBT could provide a comfortable cleaning experience.
That said, it’s always best to consult with your dental professional to determine if GBT fits your dental health needs.
Elevate Your Dental Hygiene with GBT
Guided biofilm therapy is changing more than just how we clean teeth, it’s changing how we think about oral hygiene. By blending technology, education, and prevention, GBT strives to provide a more comfortable experience at the dental office.
At Dentistes REMA, we pride ourselves on our understanding and personalized approach to dental care. If you think GBT could be right for you, book an appointment with one of our dentists to learn how we can help you.