Preventive oral care, daily brushing and flossing at home and routine dental care, is key to maintaining a healthy smile. Harmful bacteria found in plaque and debris can cause destruction to teeth and gums. At the office of Dr. Louis Paulerio, we follow the eight steps of Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) to remove these bacteria. Biofilm is a thick sticky matrix secreted by bacteria that can be difficult to remove. GBT is a prophylaxis treatment that removes the bacteria filled biofilm from the teeth and below the gums.
GBT includes the following steps:
Assessment: The first step in any therapeutic treatment is to assess the level of need. We will begin with a review medical and dental history. Followed by vital signs and having the patient rinse with an antimicrobial mouth rinse. Several medical conditions accelerate the progression of dental disease. We will evaluate your oral health and diagnose diseases of the teeth and gums. This will help determine the right therapy for treatment efficacy and your comfort.
Disclose: Using a blue solution, we will disclose the amount of biofilm present on the oral cavity. This is helpful to the hygienist, but also for the patient to be able to visually see the bacteria present.
Motivate: Education is an important step in the therapeutic process. It is important to teach patients strategies for preserving oral health, discuss risk factors, and teach patients about daily biofilm removal.
Airflow: The Airflow tool will remove and blast away biofilm above and below the gum line up to 4mm in depth. This means that we can clean gum pockets and help you have healthier gums.
Perioflow: For patients with gum pockets greater than 4mm the perioflow nozzle will be used. The perioflow nozzle is also safe around dental implants and other prosthetics.
Piezon: Following airflow or perioflow treatment, we will use ultrasonic or hand instruments to remove any hard deposits to ensure the teeth and gums are clean.
Check: The final check is completed to ensure that the cleaning process is complete.
Re-Care: Depending on the severity of oral disease we may ask for patients to return more frequently for therapeutic treatment.
Helping our patients maintain optimum oral health is our priority. We offer plenty of dental hygiene services. Gum disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis, can be highly destructive if left unattended. For more information, contact our office at (619)223-3811.
