When a “Hopeless” Tooth Isn’t Hopeless

Posted on January 23, 2026January 21, 2026 by Lee Sheldon DMD PA

A 45-year-old woman arrived in our office in significant pain. The day before, she had seen a dentist for a painful lower left central incisor. The recommendation was straightforward: extract the tooth and then see a periodontist. She refused. Instead, she searched for another option and drove nearly 50 miles to our office. The Clinical Picture She was hitting tooth #24 every time she closed her mouth—and it hurt badly. The gingival tissue was visibly swollen, and the tooth had Clas...

Flying Blind: A Wake-Up Call – Part Two

Posted on July 11, 2025June 26, 2025 by Michael Goldberg DMD

In Part 1 of this series, Dr. Michael Goldberg urged dental professionals to return to their scientific roots and rethink their diagnostic habits. Now, in Part 2, he turns his attention to another critical gap in care: what happens once the patient leaves the chair. Diagnosis without follow-through leaves patients—and practices—vulnerable. In this installment, Dr. Goldberg explores how to bridge that gap with personalized care, modern tools, and the right conversations that truly empower ...

“Step Up Your Game” with Guided Biofilm Therapy

Posted on July 21, 2023July 18, 2023 by Kendra Fox RDH

“There’s a new sheriff in town and the name is GBT.” Translation: a new therapy has come to be a driving force and is making profound advancements in oral health like never before. Or, how about, “Out with the old and in with the new.” It’s time to start fresh and leave the old ideas behind. These two idioms perfectly describe “Guided Biofilm Therapy” (GBT). EMS (Electro Medical Systems), a company in Nyon, Switzerland developed their AIRFLOW air polishing and Piezon PS No Pain piezo-ceramic sca...

Identify & Destroy! Synergistic Pathogenic Biofilm Management

Posted on November 22, 2019May 20, 2021 by Karen Davis RDH, BSDH

Synergy is the combined effect of two things being greater than either one independently. As a veteran of managing periodontal diseases, that is how I view salivary diagnostics and Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT). With salivary diagnostics I can identify specific pathogens thriving in my patient’s biofilm, and through the process of GBT I am able to dismantle and destroy those pathogens. This is synergy at its best. Quick review of pathogenic biofilm, then we can focus on GBT and salivary...