Hygiene

The frequency of dental hygiene visits can vary depending on your individual oral health needs and the recommendations of your dentist or dental hygienist.

In general, we recommend having a dental hygiene visit every 4-6 months. However, some individuals may require more frequent visits if you have a history of gum disease, tooth decay, or other oral health issues.

Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is an advanced dental hygiene approach that focuses on the complete removal of dental biofilm, which consists of bacteria and other microorganisms, from the teeth, implants and gums. It is a comprehensive and comfortable approach to oral hygiene and maintenance.

The process typically includes the following steps:

1. Assessment: The dental hygienist will assess your oral health by examining your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues. This is to evaluate the condition of your teeth and identify any areas of concern.
2. Education: They will provide guidance and education on proper oral hygiene techniques, including brushing, flossing, and interdental cleaning. They may also discuss lifestyle factors that can impact oral health and provide recommendations for improvement.
3. Disclosing solution: A disclosing solution (dye) is applied to the teeth to help identify areas where dental plaque and biofilm accumulate. This allows the hygienist to highlight to the patient areas of concern and target the areas that require cleaning.
4. Biofilm removal: Specialized equipment is used to gently and effectively remove dental plaque and biofilm from the tooth surfaces, including hard-to-reach areas. Air polishing involves a spray of air, water, and fine powder particles to remove stains and biofilm.
5. Tooth polishing: After the biofilm removal, the teeth are polished to remove any residual stains and to create a smooth surface that is more resistant to future plaque buildup.
6. Personalized home care plan: The dental professional will provide personalized recommendations for maintaining good oral hygiene at home. This may include specific oral care products, techniques, and follow-up instructions tailored to your needs.

If you have porcelain veneers, it is possible to have a GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) treatment. GBT is a professional dental cleaning procedure that involves removing dental plaque, biofilm, and stains from the teeth using specialized equipment.

The equipment used in GBT, such as air polishing devices, is safe to use on porcelain veneers if provided by a trained professional. GBT uses the patented Erythritol PLUS powder which has the finest particle size (14microns) used in dentistry – much finer than the paste used to polish your teeth. This means that it can be safely used on the surface of both composite and porcelain restorations.

The procedure is generally well-tolerated by patients and is not considered to be painful. Because the GBT procedure uses warm water with an extremely fine powder it typically alleviates the sensitivity experienced during more traditional hygiene procedures.

If you have sensitive teeth or gums, or if you have areas of inflammation or infection in your mouth, you may experience some temporary sensitivity or discomfort. However, your hygienist will take steps to ensure your comfort throughout treatment.

Oral hygiene is extremely important during pregnancy. Gum disease has been linked to premature delivery and low birth weight babies. GBT is perfectly safe during pregnancy and we would recommend seeing our hygienist every 3-4 months during your pregnancy.

The initial comprehensive hygiene therapy appointment lasts 1 hour. It is likely that your subsequent maintenance appointments will be shorter than this, but this is dependent on your individual needs and risk assessed at your initial appointment.