EMS Airflow Guided Biofilm Therapy

EMS Airflow GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy): advanced teeth cleaning technology

When you come to our dental clinic for teeth cleaning with our experienced dental hygienist, we’ll offer GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) as our standard dental cleaning approach. Our refreshed dental hygiene method uses Swiss-engineered instruments which provide a better result than traditional teeth cleaning procedures which use scrapers and abrasive pastes.

We use the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool to perform GBT. It allows for quieter, less abrasive and more detailed plaque removal. In addition, the air-based nature of the tool results in a higher level of dental hygiene because of the more intensive clean it provides.

The time taken for a thorough dental clean is halved compared to the time it takes for a clean using traditional methods. This means our dental professionals have extra time to focus on all aspects of your oral health.

How does EMS Airflow GBT work?

Put simply, the EMS Airflow GBT tool uses air to clean your teeth quietly and in a minimally-invasive way. 

Teeth cleaning with GBT is a multi-step dental cleaning procedure to remove dental plaque – a sticky, filmy collection of bacteria, food remnants and saliva. Biofilm is another term for plaque. The plaque causes the production of acid, which can dissolve tooth enamel.

Having a teeth-cleaning session with GBT is:

• less abrasive than the manual tools, leaving the teeth enamel surface intact
• quicker than a traditional dental hygiene session which uses manual tools
• quieter, as the Airflow GBT tool is not noisy
• minimally-invasive, as the air from the device does all the hard work
• more efficient, as your dental hygienist won’t have to use as many instruments to achieve a detailed clean.

At our dental clinic, it doesn’t cost anything extra to get your teeth cleaned using the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool. You could think of GBT as a day spa for your teeth. 

The GBT procedure, step by step

During teeth-cleaning treatment with the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool, our dental hygienist follows a multi-step procedure.

Assessment & Infection Control

• We examine your teeth and gums, looking for healthy teeth, healthy gums and dental implants (if applicable)
• Our hygienist will also look for gingivitis (gum inflammation), periodontitis (gum disease), and tooth cavities
• We finalise this step with a cleansing mouthwash to eliminate excess microbes in the mouth.

Disclose

• Our dental hygienist uses a swab to apply a dye solution to the teeth and gums. The dye turns an indigo / purple colour when exposed to existing plaque deposits
• The colour change helps our hygienist to identify plaque accurately
• Because of the dye’s action, you and your hygienist can see the exact location of the plaque deposits on your teeth – you can see where you’re not brushing.

Airflow Max

• This is where the air-powered action happens
• The Airflow Max handpiece removes plaque and stains from teeth, crowns, bridges and dental implants, using air to clean and polish teeth in a minimally-invasive way
• We also use the PLUS powder at this stage to remove plaque. If needed, we follow up with a separate powder to remove stains caused by smoking, coffee and red wine.

Perioflow

• If our hygienist thinks it’s necessary, the tool removes any plaque located at a deeper level underneath the external edges of the gum tissue, up to a depth of 9mm
• This step is significant for maintaining and increasing the lifespan of dental implants, so we always include this step for patients with implants.

Piezon

• This handpiece gives the deepest clean from the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool
• It doesn’t damage crowns or bridges, and it is an excellent tool in treating gingivitis or periodontitis (severe gum disease) non-surgically and pain-free.

Check, control & finish

• The clean is over, and our hygienist performs a final check to see that your winning smile is back
• Your teeth no longer have any plaque, and you’ll receive a fluoride treatment to protect your teeth.

Getting down to the surface with EMS GBT

Using the standard Airflow Max handpiece during a dental hygiene session leads to smoother tooth enamel, compared to the components of a traditional dental hygiene appointment. 

After mouth rinsing

After using a mouth wash with an active ingredient that kills bacteria, the bacterial remains are still present on the teeth surface. 

Using abrasive paste

The effects of an abrasive paste polish away the natural format of the enamel surface, which means plaque falls into the existing crevices.

Using Airflow Max

Using the Airflow Max handpiece, in conjunction with the PLUS powder as part of the GBT process, completely removes plaque while maintaining the natural enamel surface. The surface is no longer rough, with no need to polish with abrasive pastes – air has done the polishing work. 

Oral cleaning applications the EMS Airflow can be used for include:

 

Do I need GBT as part of my teeth cleaning appointment?

Patients will notice how quick a teeth cleaning session is with GBT and Airflow. Patients will have clean, sparkling teeth in less than half the time of a traditional session using manual tools.

Our experienced and skilled dental hygienist has an eye for detail, which allows for a more comprehensive clean with the Airflow tool. All new teeth cleaning appointments at our Richmond dental practice now include the use of the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool and GBT at no extra cost to you.

When can I have my GBT teeth cleaning appointment?

You can experience the difference of a clean using the innovative EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master tool and GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) at your next scheduled teeth cleaning appointment. Contact our friendly reception staff to make an appointment with our hygienist in the comfortable environment of our Richmond dental clinic.

Guided Biofilm Therapy FAQs

What is biofilm?

Biofilm is another word for dental plaque. Biofilm is a collection of the natural bacteria in your mouth, mixed with food remnants and saliva. It’s a sticky, gooey film that produces acid. The acid can eat away at the tooth enamel and cause damage to the teeth.

How much does Guided Biofilm Therapy cost?

We don’t charge any extra at our Richmond dental practice to clean your teeth with the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master GBT tool.

What are the differences between GBT and traditional teeth cleaning methods?

• GBT is less abrasive on your teeth.
• It’s a quicker experience getting your teeth cleaned with the EMS Airflow Prophylaxis Master GBT tool. 
• Traditional teeth cleaning uses dental scrapers to remove plaque deposits. Scrapers can damage the enamel coating of teeth. The air from the tool lessens any impact on enamel.
• Patients with sensitive teeth report a more comfortable experience, as the cleaning can be performed within a range of temperatures.
• Manual tools like dental scrapers can be noisy. Some patients become uncomfortable when exposed to noise, so the very quiet nature of the air-powered GBT tool provides a much calmer environment.
• The Airflow tool provides a more detailed, in-depth clean. The depth of this clean is most evident immediately underneath the tooth-gum area.