The dental cleaning you no longer need to put off
Guided Biofilm Therapy is a Swiss protocol for professional dental hygiene — warm water and a fine powder instead of scraping. No metal curettes, or their use kept to a minimum, and none of the sensation that makes people postpone the appointment for years.
Dr. Naira Hovhannisyan — certified GBT specialist and SDA Trainer
It begins by making the problem visible
Biofilm — the thin bacterial layer behind caries and gum inflammation — is invisible to the eye. In the GBT protocol it is first stained with a disclosing agent. At that moment both you and the clinician see an exact map: where the deposits are, and what you have been missing at home every day.
You cannot clean what you cannot see.
Clinical case, photographs and radiographs by Dr. Naira Hovhannisyan, White Castle dental medical clinic, Yerevan.
What makes the difference
It is not only the device, but the order of things: in GBT, diagnosis comes first and cleaning second.
Conventional cleaning
- Extensive use of metal instruments
- Pain and sensitivity afterwards
- Only what is visible gets removed
- Risk of micro-scratches on enamel and restorations
- Limited access around implants
Guided Biofilm Therapy
- A stream of warm water and erythritol powder
- Most patients feel no pain at all
- Biofilm is disclosed first, then removed completely
- Enamel, fillings, crowns and veneers stay intact
- PERIOFLOW® cleans around the implant without damaging the surface
How our GBT differs
GBT is an international protocol, but it can be delivered at very different depths. At White Castle in Yerevan the entire procedure is performed under a microscope and built on measured data rather than visual estimation.
- Performed under a microscopeMagnification reveals deposits at the gingival margin and between the teeth — precisely where the naked eye fails to detect them.
- Florida Probe digital diagnosticsPocket depths around every tooth are measured with an electronic probe and recorded digitally. You receive a periodontal chart with exact figures and a record of how the condition changes over time.
- Your own bacteria on the microscope screenA sample of your plaque is placed under the microscope and you watch live bacteria moving. That single minute changes home-care habits more than any explanation.
- Photographic and radiographic protocolA full photo series and, where indicated, radiographs — to fix the baseline and compare it at the next visit.
- GBT Machine — the latest EMS unitWe work with the newest GBT Machine from EMS, the company behind Guided Biofilm Therapy, combining AIRFLOW®, PERIOFLOW® and PIEZON® functions in one system.
GBT procedure under the microscope, White Castle
Your appointment, step by step
GBT is not a procedure but a defined sequence. No step is skipped.
Assess
Examination under the microscope, digital pocket measurement around every tooth with Florida Probe, a photo series and radiographs where indicated.
Disclose
The disclosing agent reveals the bacterial layer, including the areas invisible to the eye.
Motivate
A sample of your plaque is examined under the microscope — live bacteria on screen. Then, at Dr. Naira’s Hygiene School, you are shown exactly how to clean your problem areas and with which tools.
AIRFLOW® MAX
Warm water and fine powder remove biofilm, soft deposits and staining from coffee, tea and tobacco.
PERIOFLOW®
In pockets deeper than 4 mm and around implants, a dedicated flexible nozzle reaches where conventional instruments cannot.
PIEZON®
Remaining hard calculus is removed with the PIEZON® function of the GBT Machine at controlled power. A separate PI tip is used for implants and restorations.
Check
Repeat disclosing and verification under the microscope — no biofilm left. Fluoride application follows in individual trays to strengthen the enamel.
Recall
An individual schedule is set for you — 3, 4 or 6 months — based on your risk profile rather than a general rule.
Who benefits most
- Patients with dental implants
- Anyone wearing braces or aligners
- Patients with crowns, veneers and restorations
- Cases of bleeding gums and periodontal disease
- Patients with sensitive teeth
- Pregnant patients
- Smokers and heavy coffee drinkers
- Anyone who has avoided cleanings for years out of fear of pain
When surgery becomes unnecessary
Bone loss around an implant — peri-implantitis — was long treated as a surgical problem. With the right protocol and regular monitoring, the body often rebuilds what it lost on its own.
Non-surgical management of peri-implantitis: a five-year follow-up
Cleaning around the implant with PERIOFLOW®, a restructured home-care routine and periodic review. The radiographs show gradual bone regeneration — without surgery.
Clinical case, photographs and radiographs by Dr. Naira Hovhannisyan, White Castle dental medical clinic, Yerevan.
Dr. Naira’s Hygiene School
The cleaning is the result of a single visit. What happens over the following months is up to you. That is why every GBT appointment includes individual coaching — not general advice, but work on your specific problem areas.
- Correct brushing technique, demonstrated on a model
- Interdental tools selected for the size of your spaces
- Use of an irrigator and adjunctive aids
- A personal care kit with written instructions
Who performs the treatment
GBT is a protocol, not a device. On the same equipment, the result depends on who is working with it.
- Dr. Naira Hovhannisyan — dentist, YSMU, 2007, 18 years in practice
- Co-founder of White Castle — at the clinic since 2010
- SDA Trainer — Swiss Dental Academy, Nyon, Switzerland, 2025
- GBT specialist and trainer — teaches the protocol to other dentists
- Medical consultant — EMS, Switzerland
- Lecturer — YSMU and ISD Dental School
- Director — Dental Tourism Armenia Foundation
- Non-surgical periodontology — courses with K. Matevosyan (R.D.H., M.S., USA)
Certified in Switzerland at the Swiss Dental Academy headquarters in July 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
No. The water is warmed to body temperature and the erythritol powder is exceptionally fine. Metal curettes are either not used at all or applied minimally — only where genuinely necessary.
How long does the appointment take?
45–75 minutes, depending on the volume of deposits and how long it has been since your last cleaning.
Will my teeth look whiter?
GBT is not a whitening treatment. It removes staining from coffee, tea, wine and tobacco, returning the teeth to their natural shade. For most people that is enough.
I have an implant — is it safe?
Yes. PERIOFLOW® was developed specifically for implants and deep pockets: it cleans around the titanium surface without scratching it. For implant patients, regular professional hygiene is one of the main conditions for long-term success.
How often should it be repeated?
It is individual: every 3 to 6 months. The interval is set from the diagnostic findings of your first visit, not from a general rule.
Are there any restrictions afterwards?
For about 2–3 hours it is advisable to avoid strongly staining drinks and smoking. There are no other restrictions — you can return to your day immediately.
Book your GBT cleaning
At your first visit you will see the map of your own biofilm and receive an individual care plan.
White Castle dental medical clinic, Yerevan, Armenia · +374 12 336699 · 6/1 Nikoghayos Adonts St., Yerevan 0014