Biofilm is another word for plaque that has accumulated around the gums and between the teeth. Plaque is a sticky colorless and odorless substance made of bacteria that contributes to cavities and gum disease.
It’s initially soft, but if left untreated for too long, it hardens into tartar, at which point it needs to be removed during a professional cleaning. A traditional prophylaxis cleaning involves scaling around the gum line and between each tooth with invasive instruments to scrape off plaque and tartar.
When gum disease is present, we need to scale below the gum line and also need to perform root planing to smooth out the tooth roots. Then, the teeth are polished with an electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste.
Guided biofilm therapy is a minimally invasive alternative to this traditional method of cleaning. Using a harmless dye that we apply to the teeth, we can identify where plaque is present by staining it to reveal where its location.
Then, a special airflow tool combines heat, air, and water along with a sweet powder that is applied to the teeth and gums to remove plaque buildup, surface stains, and food particles.
Guided biofilm therapy is less invasive, more comfortable, and more effective at thoroughly cleaning the teeth. It is considered the gold standard to maintain the health and cleanliness of dental implants. It’s even more thorough at banishing surface stains from the teeth. While it doesn’t completely eliminate the need for scaling tools if there is tartar, it does reduce the need for these traditional instruments and you may only need it for a few teeth. By using this method, dental instruments never need to come in contact with your teeth and since gritty toothpaste isn’t necessary to polish your teeth, this is less abrasive to your tooth enamel. Since plaque and tartar accumulation lead to serious oral health problems such as tooth decay, infections, gum disease, and increase your risk for serious systemic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, effectively cleaning the teeth in a more comfortable and less invasive manner is extremely important.
The first step of the process is called disclosure. This is when Dr. Gill will apply a colored harmless dye to your teeth. This stains the plaque that is present on the teeth so that he can identify where it needs to be removed.
Various shades of color indicate the length of time the plaque has been present. The next step is presentation and instruction. After the plaque has been stained, Dr. Gill will show you where plaque is present, what the varying colors mean, and how you can prevent plaque buildup in the future. This is also a good time to consider what areas you be more attentive to based on where plaque is more common or has been there the longest.
Next, we will use the airflow handpiece to remove plaque, stains, and food debris from above the gum line. After this, we will look for any present tartar that still needs to be removed with ultrasonic hand tools. This typically is much less after using airflow technology.
In reality, everyone is a great candidate for guided biofilm therapy, because it’s a more effective and less invasive way to thoroughly clean the teeth.
However, it’s especially ideal for patients with dental anxiety, tooth sensitivity, dental implants, oral appliances like braces, low pain tolerance, sensory issues, special needs, and a high risk for oral health problems or conditions that increase their risk for cavities such as diabetes and Dry Mouth. Contact us at Ivory Dental Studio today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Harjit Gill.
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