Dr Victoria Sampson, the award-winning London-based dentist, marked 10 years of direct access with a special open day dedicated to preventive health efforts.
To mark this amazing achievement, The Health Society near Mayfair opened its doors on Saturday 9 September for members of the consumer press. It offered appointments for the game-changing guided biofilm therapy (GBT) protocol.
Speaking about the event, Victoria commented: ‘The influencers who attended on the day had a combined following of 306,000. My team and I were so keen to join our efforts with these key influencers, as it helps us reach and educate an incredible number of people on the importance of oral health.’
Adding his voice to this success story, Harry Morris, UK & Ireland GBT sales manager, said: ‘As the creators of the GBT protocol, EMS, a company dedicated to preventive care, is proud to have Victoria as one of their ambassadors and delighted to celebrate the role GBT has played in the evolution of The Health Society’s ethos of optimising oral health.’
Balancing the oral microbiome
Indeed, Victoria and her team at The Health Society work hard to help patients optimise their oral health and, therefore, their general health, too.
No small part of this is a focus on balancing the oral microbiome, reducing inflammation and stabilising disease.
Evidence indicates that the oral microbiome ecosystem comprises approximately 700 different bacteria. It is the second most diverse microbiome after the gut (Casseli E and others, 2020; Giordano-Kelhoffer and others, 2021).
Dysbiosis or imbalance of the microbiome occurs when, for example, we change our diet, take up new habits, don’t brush our teeth, have certain medical conditions and take certain medications.
This is not an exhaustive list of what can affect the oral microbiome. However, it does offer interesting insight into some of the most common causes of dysbiosis.
Following this process to the next stage, we know that dysbiosis occurs contributes to oral health issues such as periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Additionally, there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates it can also impact systemic diseases. These include diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and high blood pressure. This results from oral bacteria travelling from the mouth to other parts of the body and low-grade chronic inflammation.
In line with this, there has been a considerable amount of interesting research released over the past few years. It demonstrates that a balanced oral microbiome is key not only to oral health but also general health.
GBT makes a difference
Building on this evidence base, Victoria has found GBT to have an impressive impact on the oral microbiome. It not only mechanically removes the biofilm and calculus but is also thought to modify the oral microbiome chemically.
For perio patients, Victoria often offers full-mouth disinfections, incorporating GBT and sometimes stronger antibacterial agents.
As for the GBT protocol itself, it uses an airflow technology that is impregnated with erythritol, a chemical that has been shown to be antibacterial, anticariogenic and anti-adherence.
This means that it not only helps to remove the bacteria present in the oral cavity but also supports recolonisation of a healthy, balanced microbiome after the appointment.
Working in partnership
Speaking about how GBT facilitates the team approach between the dentist, the dental hygienist or dental therapist and the patient, Victoria said: ‘GBT is a predictable solution for biofilm management. It has eight steps that we follow for every patient.
‘This means that there is consistency with treatment for all our patients, no matter who performs it. It also allows me to monitor treatment easily, if GBT is being performed by the hygienist.’
She added: ‘Patients absolutely love GBT. The AIRFLOW is comfortable, easy to use and very effective at stain removal. The PIEZON technology automatically increases power when resistance at the tip increases, and automatically decreases power when resistance at the tip decreases. This makes the treatment minimally invasive and pain-free.
‘GBT has been a real game-changer for our practice. Patients find it much more comfortable and look forward to their clean. From a clinical perspective, I can visibly see the difference in my patients’ gums, oral health, and their compliance once we switch to GBT. I honestly don’t think I could go back to using a standard cleaning system again, as I would feel as if I was doing my patients a disservice.’
Integrated care
GBT is an integral aspect of the entire patient journey. Therefore, it has an important role to play in the overriding ambitions of any dental practice.
GBT empowers dental hygienists and dental therapists. The hygiene department is also a great way to get referrals to the dentist for want- or need-based treatment that only the dentist can perform. This delivers both direct and indirect revenue.
Patients come in for an affordable and value-driven oral hygiene treatment plan such as GBT. It is then an easy crossover between departments, as trust and rapport have been built.
Happy and healthy patients, successful clinicians, and passionate partners – this is both Victoria’s and EMS’ mission, and you are invited to join the GBT movement in changing the face of preventive dentistry in the UK.
For further information, visit ems-dental.com.
