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What Is GBT & How Does It Improve My Oral Health?

IU GBT (guided biofilm therapy)

GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) is a dental hygiene procedure designed to effectively remove plaque and stains from the teeth. The powerful yet gentle treatment is often suggested by dentists to prevent and treat gum disease, or is used prior to procedures such as teeth whitening to get the best possible results. Skip to:

What is biofilm?

To better understand the treatment, we need to first understand what biofilm is and how it affects your teeth. Biofilm is simply another word for dental plaque. This sticky, colourless substance naturally forms on the teeth throughout the day after the bacteria in your mouth mixes with food and drink particles. It is additionally caused by tobacco, poor oral hygiene habits and medical conditions such as dry mouth. Biofilm can be removed through brushing and flossing. However, when it is not removed, it begins to harden and turn yellow or brown. This is called tartar, a much more serious dental problem that may lead to the following issues if left untreated:

  • Gum disease
  • Cavities
  • Bad breath
  • Tooth decay
  • Staining
  • Bone loss

What are the benefits of GBT?

Using a combination of modern technologies, GBT effectively cleans the teeth of biofilm. This in turn helps to prevent oral health issues like cavities. It is also minimally invasive, meaning that it doesn’t damage the structure of your natural tooth and cause sensitivity. Another significant advantage of this treatment is that it helps to remove stains from the teeth. Many of our patients leave the clinic with an immediately brighter, more uniform smile as a result. What’s more, a GBT creates the perfect clean, bright canvas for future dental procedures. This includes dental implants, whitening, veneers and crowns. The bonus? GBTs can also be carried out once these procedures have been completed!

What to expect from your GBT appointment

So, how exactly does GBT work? Here’s a step-by-step guide of what to expect during your appointment:

  1. Assessment: Your dentist will start the appointment by checking the health of your teeth and gums. An oral cancer screening is also carried out.
  2. Disclosing: A special dye is applied to highlight the biofilm present. This helps to guide the cleaning and ensure precise removal.
  3. Motivate: You are educated about biofilm and given advice as to how you can improve your oral hygiene.
  4. Airflow: Biofilm and stains are effectively removed using a combination of warm water, air and fine powder.
  5. Piezon: Using warm water and a Piezon instrument, any remaining biofilm deposits are removed from between the teeth.
  6. Perioflow: Next, this specially designed nozzle is used to go deep into the gum pockets and clean.
  7. Check: It’s now time for the dentist to re-examine the cleaned areas to ensure all the identified biofilm and dye has been removed.
  8. Next Steps: Schedule your next visit to the clinic!

The painless appointment typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes, but may differ from patient to patient based on the condition of the mouth being cleaned.

Alternative treatments to GBT

GBT isn’t the only type of hygienist treatment available to patients. Your dentist will recommend the one they feel is most suitable for your mouth’s current condition. A scale and polish is a routine clean of the mouth. Staying above the gum line, the preventative procedure includes scraping away any hardened bacteria, before the entire mouth is cleaned with specialist tools. Scaling and root planning is a much more invasive treatment that removes plaque and tartar below the gum line, and is typically used for more serious oral health issues. A local anaesthetic is required for this appointment, unlike GBT and a scale and polish.

FAQs

Have more questions about Guided Biofilm Therapy? We’re here to answer them.

How often do I need to have a GBT appointment?

This changes from patient to patient. However, we generally recommend having GBT every six months, alongside your routine check-ups with your dentist.

How much does GBT teeth cleaning cost?

At Yorkshire Dental Suite, the price of GBT is £175. Ask about our finance options if you wish to spread the cost of this procedure.

Does GBT whiten teeth?

GBT is great for lifting stains and, once a stain is removed, your smile can appear whiter. It does not whiten the teeth though. We recommend pairing GBT and our at-home teeth whitening kit together for a dazzling smile.

Is GBT good for teeth?

As mentioned earlier, GBT offers a number of benefits to patients, both aesthetic and health-related. If you are wondering about if GBT can damage your teeth in any way, then let us put your mind at ease. As it is minimally invasive, the risk of it damaging the enamel is very low. Conclusion: This innovative cleaning treatment is a great way to prevent and treat oral health issues like gum disease. GBT is something Yorkshire Dental Suite offers to patients – book your appointment today.