Preventive care in Essen
Professional teeth cleaning complements your daily oral care. At diadentis in Essen, we combine cleaning with personal advice: Where does plaque remain, which aids suit your teeth and restorations, and what should you pay attention to at home? We use Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) with AIRFLOW and adapt the procedure to your clinical findings.
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Analyze oral health status
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Assess individual risks
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Coordinate preventive measures
Prophylaxis: understanding, prevention, and long-term support
Prophylaxis means actively supporting the health of your teeth and gums. Professional teeth cleaning is one part of this. It is equally important for you to know which areas require special attention and how to reach them at home. The goal is not to use as many products as possible, but rather to establish a clear and manageable plan for your oral health.
Professional cleaning around crowns, bridges, and implants
The margins of crowns, areas beneath bridges, and the tissue around implants need particular attention during daily care. Suitable cleaning aids and professional cleaning adapted to these areas can support your oral hygiene at home. Signs of inflammation also require a dental examination. Find out more under Implant aftercare and peri-implantitis.
What is biofilm, and why is it made visible?
Biofilm refers to the bacterial deposits that adhere to tooth surfaces. They are not always easy to spot. With Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), these deposits are stained with a special dye. This aids in targeted cleaning and allows you to see where your home care routine is already working well and where it could be improved. The staining process is not a judgment of your brushing technique, but rather a practical guide for both of us.
GBT with AIRFLOW at diadentis
At diadentis, we use GBT with AIRFLOW. AIRFLOW removes soft deposits using a mixture of air, water, and fine powder. Harder deposits are treated separately using appropriate instruments. Success depends not on a single device, but on the overall process: assessment, targeted cleaning, a final check, and personalized care advice.
The choice of instruments and settings depends on factors such as your existing teeth and dental restorations, as well as the sensitivity of the areas being treated. Please let us know if anything feels uncomfortable or if you feel tense due to past experiences. No single treatment procedure can guarantee the exact same sensation or outcome for everyone. EMS, the manufacturer of AIRFLOW technology, explains the technical setup.
A randomized study on the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis compared GBT with conventional instruments and found comparable clinical treatment outcomes. This does not imply blanket superiority for every prophylaxis scenario. It is therefore important for us to select the method best suited to the clinical findings and to clearly explain its benefits. Study on GBT and conventional treatment, 2024.
What does our prophylaxis team do?
Our prophylaxis team supports you with professional cleaning and daily oral care. Mara Pohlmann works in the prophylaxis department, while Kimberly Zaslavski assists with clinical procedures and also supports the prophylaxis team. These tasks are integrated into the dental treatment plan. Diagnosis, treatment decisions, and overall responsibility for treatment rest with the dentist. Meet our practice team.
A helpful consultation answers specific questions: What size interdental brush do I need? How do I clean under a bridge? How do I reach the back of a hard-to-access tooth? Feel free to bring along the oral hygiene aids you currently use and any questions you have. Recommendations are tailored to your dexterity, daily routine, and existing dental restorations, ensuring you can maintain the regimen in the long term.
Why preventive care with us means more than just cleaning
Our holistic approach begins with understanding your personal situation. That is why we do not view preventive care as an isolated appointment: your clinical findings, your goals, and any existing treatments are all interconnected. We explain which measures are being proposed and why. After the appointment, you should know not only what was done but also what you can look out for yourself.
How often is preventive care advisable? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. If you have previously been treated for periodontitis, structured supportive therapy may be required; this is not the same as a standard cleaning. We will discuss the level of care and the intervals that best suit your clinical situation. The EFP also emphasizes the interplay between home care, professional care, and modifiable risk factors.
Analysis as a starting point
Assessment involves examining the teeth, gums, and periodontal pockets. Depending on the specific clinical question, we may also consider an additional analysis of a sample taken from a periodontal pocket.
The appropriate examination for your personal preventive care is determined based on your clinical findings.
Discussing oral hygiene together
Preventive care includes reviewing your tooth-brushing habits. This allows for a discussion of brushing techniques and how to clean areas that a toothbrush alone cannot reach.
Incorporating dietary habits
Dietary habits can also be addressed as part of preventive care. The goal is to clearly explain their potential impact on tooth structure and oral health.
Information on treating inflammation of the tooth-supporting structures can be found under Periodontitis.
Frequently asked questions about prevention and prophylactic care.
How often is professional teeth cleaning advisable?
The appropriate intervals depend on your individual oral condition. At diadentis, we also perform an aMMP-8 test. We consider its measured value together with the clinical findings when deciding how often professional teeth cleaning should take place. Your oral hygiene and existing restorations are also taken into account. After treatment for periodontitis or if you have implants, a separate aftercare plan may be needed.
Does professional teeth cleaning replace a dental check-up?
No. Cleaning removes plaque and supports your oral care. A dental examination assesses your teeth, gums, and existing restorations. The two complement each other.
Is teeth cleaning sufficient for periodontitis or peri-implantitis?
Routine professional teeth cleaning does not replace targeted treatment of diagnosed periodontitis or peri-implantitis. The treatment and subsequent aftercare required depend on the clinical findings. Further information is available under Periodontitis and Implant aftercare.
How to arrange your appointment
New to diadentis? Your first step is a free telephone appointment. We discuss your concerns, the next steps, and your questions about costs. A later examination or teeth cleaning is a separate service and is therefore not automatically free of charge.
Already receiving treatment with us? You can continue to book a check-up or professional teeth cleaning directly via Book an appointment.
This information does not replace a personal examination or individual medical advice.
Responsible for clinical content: Dr. Stefan Schmid, dentist.