AirFlow and Guided Biofilm Therapy - Advanced Dental Hygiene product guide

Core Dental Group: Rethinking the routine dental clean

For most people, a dental clean means the familiar sound and sensation of metal scaling instruments scraping against teeth. Traditional scaling and polishing has been the standard for decades. It works — but it is not the most advanced option available.

Core Dental Group offers access to EMS AirFlow technology, a system built around a protocol called Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT). If you have ever wondered whether there is a better way to have your teeth cleaned, there is.

What is AirFlow and Guided Biofilm Therapy?

Guided Biofilm Therapy is a systematic, evidence-based protocol developed by EMS (Electro Medical Systems) that changes both the sequence and the tools used during a professional dental clean.

The process works like this:

1. Biofilm disclosure — a disclosing solution is applied to your teeth that stains the bacterial biofilm (plaque), making it visible to both you and your hygienist. This turns the clean from a general procedure into a targeted one.

2. AirFlow treatment — a controlled stream of warm water, air, and fine powder removes the disclosed biofilm, staining, and early calculus from tooth surfaces, between teeth, and around the gum line. This replaces much of the traditional hand scaling and ultrasonic work.

3. Perioflow (subgingival) — for patients with gum pockets, a specialised nozzle delivers AirFlow treatment below the gum line, reaching areas that traditional instruments struggle to access comfortably.

4. Piezon scaling — any remaining hard calculus that AirFlow cannot remove is addressed with a gentle ultrasonic Piezon scaler, used only where needed rather than across every tooth surface.

Why it is better than traditional scaling

The advantages are real and practical:

• Gentler — the powder-and-water stream is less abrasive than metal instruments on tooth enamel, restorations, and especially exposed root surfaces
• More comfortable — most patients find AirFlow significantly more comfortable than traditional scaling, particularly those with sensitive teeth
• More thorough — the disclosure step ensures no biofilm is missed, and AirFlow reaches areas between teeth and around braces or implants that instruments can miss
• Safer for restorations — AirFlow is kinder to porcelain veneers, composite fillings, implant surfaces, and orthodontic brackets than metal scalers
• Better for home care — seeing the disclosed biofilm on your own teeth tends to be a genuine motivator for improving your brushing and flossing routine

Where to access this technology

AirFlow and Guided Biofilm Therapy require specific equipment and hygienists trained in the GBT protocol. This is not simply a matter of purchasing a machine — hygienists need training in the systematic approach, the disclosure-guided workflow, and the appropriate use of different powder types for different clinical situations.

Core Dental Group patients have access to specialist hygienists who are trained in and routinely deliver Guided Biofilm Therapy using EMS AirFlow technology. The Smile Solutions Group, of which Core Dental is a part, brings together over 80 clinicians with 33 years of experience and more than 300,000 patients treated — the kind of investment in technology and training that most suburban practices do not make.

A reason to visit the CBD, even for a clean

Most patients think of the Collins Street Specialist Centre for complex specialist procedures. But AirFlow hygiene is a genuine reason to visit even for what would normally be a routine appointment.

If you want a more comfortable and thorough dental clean, if sensitive teeth make traditional scaling unpleasant, or if you have restorations, implants, or orthodontic appliances that need careful cleaning, it is worth the trip.

How to access AirFlow hygiene

As a Core Dental Group patient within the Smile Solutions Group, you can request a referral for an AirFlow hygiene appointment at the CBD flagship. Your Core Dental dentist can discuss whether GBT would be particularly useful for your situation — especially if you have implants, veneers, gum sensitivity, or orthodontic appliances.

Speak with your Core Dental Group team at your next visit, or find out more at directory.coredental.com.au or directory.smilesolutions.com.au.

Last reviewed: 8 June 2026