The Role of Guided Biofilm Therapy in Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is all about adjusting the alignment of teeth and jaw to have a beautiful and functional smile. However, the treatment comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to oral hygiene. With braces making it difficult to clean teeth effectively, patients can experience tooth decay, gum disease and even white spots on teeth. To address these challenges, modern orthodontic treatment now includes Guided Biofilm Therapy, which is a cutting-edge approach to oral hygiene.
What is Guided Biofilm Therapy?
Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is a comprehensive approach to eliminating dental plaque and other harmful deposits from the mouth. This therapy is performed by a dental hygienist, or a dentist, who uses a combination of specialized equipment and techniques to remove biofilm, a sticky bacterial film that accumulates on tooth surfaces and in-between teeth. Biofilm is the primary cause of oral health issues like tooth decay, periodontal disease, and even bad breath.
GBT consists of four main steps:
– Air polishing: An air polishing device called the AirFlow Prophylaxis Master is used to deliver a fine powdery mixture of air, water and sodium bicarbonate to gently and painlessly remove staining, biofilm, and tartar.
– Detection: A disclosing solution is used to visually detect any remaining biofilm not removed by air-polishing.
– Scaling and polishing: After detecting and marking remaining biofilm, the hygienist or dentist manually removes it using hand-held instruments like scalers, curettes, or ultrasonic scalers. Polishing is then done to smooth surfaces and make plaque removal easier.
– Fluoride treatment: A fluoride varnish is applied to protect tooth enamel and strengthen it.
The Role of Guided Biofilm Therapy in Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic treatment can make oral hygiene difficult, with wires, brackets, or aligners obstructing areas where toothbrushes and floss can reach. This makes patients more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. GBT can play a vital role in orthodontic treatment by providing more efficient oral hygiene and helping to prevent decay and gum disease.
GBT ensures that orthodontic patients have a clean and healthy oral environment before, during and after treatment. By removing plaque and other harmful deposits, orthodontic patients are given a better chance to maintain their oral health and have a guided biofilm therapy better quality of life during and after orthodontic treatment.
How GBT Benefits Orthodontic Patients
There are several benefits to using GBT in orthodontic treatment:
1. Improved Oral Hygiene: Orthodontic appliances make it difficult for patients to brush and floss effectively. Guided Biofilm Therapy improves oral hygiene by removing plaque, biofilm, and other harmful deposits in hard-to-reach areas, increasing the effectiveness of brushing and flossing.
2. Prevention of White Spots: White spots on teeth can occur as a result of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. GBT can eliminate plaque and other harmful deposits before they lead to white spots forming on the teeth.
3. Saves Time and Money: Improved oral hygiene reduces the likelihood of additional dental procedures that can be time-consuming and expensive.
4. Comfort: GBT uses non-invasive methods, making it painless and comfortable for patients.
5. Increased Treatment Success: GBT can reduce the likelihood of oral health problems during and after orthodontic treatment. This leads to increased treatment success and better long-term oral health outcomes.
Conclusion
Guided Biofilm Therapy plays a significant role in orthodontic treatment by improving oral hygiene and reducing the likelihood of oral health problems. By utilizing specialized equipment and techniques, GBT removes harmful deposits like plaque and biofilm from the teeth, giving patients a cleaner and healthier mouth. Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment who receive GBT also benefit from reduced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and white spots on their teeth. GBT is an important advancement in modern orthodontic care, leading to more successful and effective treatments with better long-term outcomes for patients.