Reimagining Hygiene with Biofilm Management With Dr. Pam Maragliano

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In this episode of The Digital Dentist Digest, Dr. Melissa Seibert is joined by board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Pam Maragliano for Part 2 of their conversation, focusing on preventive dentistry systems, guided biofilm therapy (GBT), and modern hygiene workflows that drive both clinical outcomes and practice growth.

Dr. Maragliano shares a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of how her practice approaches biofilm management using air polishing technology, subgingival therapy, and piezoelectric instrumentation, and how these systems improve efficiency, ergonomics, and patient comfort. The discussion explores how transitioning from traditional prophy models to evidence-based, biofilm-focused care can significantly increase hygiene production while elevating the standard of care.

A major focus of the episode is patient engagement and behavior change, including how to communicate periodontal findings in a way that resonates with patients' broader health goals. Dr. Maragliano explains how aligning oral health with systemic health—such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline—can improve case acceptance and long-term compliance.

The conversation also dives into risk-based preventive care, challenging the traditional six-month recall model and advocating for individualized hygiene intervals based on disease risk and clinical findings. Listeners will learn how to implement adjunctive therapies such as fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluoride (SDF), hydroxyapatite, and antimicrobial agents, as well as how to integrate these services into a sustainable and ethical fee structure.

Additionally, this episode addresses practical challenges dentists face daily, including:

• Communicating the value and limitations of SDF

• Managing patient expectations and financial concerns

• Establishing clinical boundaries and maintaining treatment integrity

• Building a high-performing hygiene team aligned with periodontal goals

Dr. Maragliano also shares real-world insights into how adopting the right systems and team structure led to significant increases in hygiene production and overall practice profitability, without sacrificing patient-centered care.

This episode is ideal for general dentists, hygienists, and practice owners looking to modernize their approach to preventive dentistry, periodontal care, and hygiene-driven growth using practical, evidence-based strategies.

Key topics include:

• Guided biofilm therapy (GBT) protocols and workflow

• Air polishing and piezoelectric instrumentation in hygiene

• Risk-based recall intervals vs. traditional six-month model

• Patient communication strategies for periodontal disease

• Adjunctive preventive therapies (fluoride, SDF, probiotics, hydroxyapatite)

• Increasing hygiene production and efficiency

• Case acceptance, patient motivation, and behavioral change

• Clinical boundaries and ethical treatment planning