Air Polishing
Also: Airborne particle polishing
Air polishing is a dental cleaning technique that uses pressurized air, water, and a fine powder to remove biofilm and surface stains from teeth and implants.
Biofilm Disclosing
Also: Plaque disclosing
Biofilm disclosing is the use of a dye (typically erythrosine, fluorescein, or a two-tone formulation) to stain dental biofilm visible for the clinician and patient before instrumentation.
Dental Biofilm
Also: Dental plaque
Dental biofilm is a structured community of bacteria attached to tooth or implant surfaces, embedded in a self-produced matrix of polysaccharides, proteins, and DNA.
Dental Calculus
Also: Tartar, hardened plaque
Dental calculus is mineralized dental plaque — biofilm that has calcified through saliva- or crevicular-fluid-derived mineral precipitation — requiring mechanical instrumentation for removal.
Erythritol Powder
Also: Erythritol prophy powder
Erythritol powder is a sugar-alcohol-based air polishing powder with a particle size around 14 microns, noted for low abrasiveness and suitability for subgingival and peri-implant applications.
Glycine Powder
Also: Glycine prophy powder
Glycine powder is a low-abrasive amino-acid-based air polishing powder with a typical particle size around 25 microns, used for biofilm removal including in subgingival and peri-implant contexts.
Guided Biofilm Therapy
Also: GBT
Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) is an 8-step prophylaxis protocol developed by EMS that prioritizes biofilm disclosure, air polishing, and ultrasonic scaling in a specific sequence.
iTOP
Also: Individually Trained Oral Prophylaxis
iTOP (Individually Trained Oral Prophylaxis) is a dental education concept that trains patients and professionals in Solo-Technique toothbrushing and interdental cleaning as the primary mechanism of biofilm control.
Magnetostrictive Scaling
Also: Magneto scaler
Magnetostrictive scaling uses metal stacks or ferrite rods that vibrate under a changing magnetic field, producing elliptical tip motion at around 25-30 kHz — the technology behind the Dentsply Cavitron family.
Peri-Implant Maintenance
Also: PIM, implant maintenance
Peri-implant maintenance is a specialized prophylaxis workflow for dental implants that avoids abrasive powders and metal tips on titanium surfaces to prevent peri-implantitis.
Piezoelectric Scaling
Also: Piezo ultrasonic
Piezoelectric scaling uses ceramic crystals that deform under alternating current to produce linear tip vibrations at 25-50 kHz, delivering efficient calculus removal with less heat than magnetostrictive.
Scaling and Root Planing
Also: SRP, non-surgical perio therapy
Scaling and root planing (SRP) is the foundational non-surgical treatment for periodontitis — mechanical removal of supragingival and subgingival biofilm and calculus combined with smoothing of the root surface.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Prophylaxis)
Also: NaHCO3, baking soda
Sodium bicarbonate is the original air polishing powder, with particle sizes typically 40-250 microns, used for supragingival stain removal but contraindicated on implants and exposed dentin.
Supragingival vs Subgingival
Also: Above and below the gumline
Supragingival refers to the clinical area above the gingival margin; subgingival refers to the area below, within the periodontal pocket.
Ultrasonic Scaling
Also: Power scaling
Ultrasonic scaling uses high-frequency tip vibrations (25-50 kHz) combined with water irrigation to disrupt calculus, biofilm, and stains — delivered via piezoelectric or magnetostrictive handpieces.