AirFlow and Guided Biofilm Therapy - Advanced Dental Hygiene product guide

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 approach for decades. It works, but it is not the most advanced option available.

Smile Solutions uses EMS AirFlow technology for dental hygiene - a system called Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) that represents a significant step forward in how professional cleaning is performed. 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 the sequence and 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) so both you and your hygienist can see exactly where it is. 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 is used to remove 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 the AirFlow treatment below the gum line, reaching areas that traditional instruments struggle to access comfortably.

4. Piezon scaling - any remaining hard calculus (tartar) that the 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 of AirFlow and GBT are meaningful for patients:

• Gentler - the powder-and-water stream is less abrasive than metal instruments on tooth enamel, restorations, and especially on 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 the 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 patient education - seeing the disclosed biofilm on your own teeth is a powerful motivator for improving home care

Where to Access This Technology

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

At Smile Solutions in the Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne's CBD, the specialist hygienists are trained in and routinely deliver Guided Biofilm Therapy using EMS AirFlow technology. With over 80 clinicians and 33 years of experience treating more than 300,000 patients, the Smile Solutions Group invests in technology and training that standard suburban practices typically do not.

A Reason to Visit the CBD - Even for a Clean

Most patients think of Smile Solutions and the Collins Street Specialist Centre (CSSC) for complex specialist procedures. But AirFlow and Guided Biofilm Therapy offer a genuine reason to visit even for what would normally be a routine hygiene appointment.

If you want the most advanced, comfortable, and thorough dental clean available, if you have sensitive teeth that make traditional scaling unpleasant, or if you have restorations, implants, or orthodontic appliances that need careful cleaning, AirFlow hygiene at Smile Solutions is worth the trip.

How to Access AirFlow Hygiene

As a Core Dental 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 beneficial for your situation - especially if you have implants, veneers, gum sensitivity, or orthodontic appliances.

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