The mouth is a haven for biofilm, supporting up to 1,000 different species of microorganisms.
Besides natural teeth, dentures, implants, and braces are all biofilm-friendly areas. Biofilm on teeth or restorations can lead to caries and periodontal disease.1 Discovering biofilm at its earliest stage can prevent pain and expensive procedures later. New technologies, such as AIOBIO’s biofluorescence-based biofilm detection devices, can put hygienists in a position to detect and manage biofilm at its earliest stages.
Biofilm has natural fluorescence. Mature bacterial colonies produce certain pigments called porphyrins, which emit fluorescence. When light is used in the oral cavity, healthy teeth show as white and biofilm shows as red. The AIOBIO QBLISS™ (Quantitative Biofluorescence-Link Intelligent Screening Sphere) device detects this natural fluorescence and shows a color change at the first stage of a carious lesion’s development (Fig. 1).
This technology can track disease progression on the tooth’s surface over time. Biofilm can be detected as early as 3 days after plaque accumulation. If found early, biofilm accumulations often can be removed before caries or pain start. Besides making areas of biofilm appear red, the technology is connected to software that analyzes the fluorescence imaging to provide a quantitative score.
A big plus of this tool is that the images are produced without ionizing radiation, so hygienists can use it on patients as often as necessary—even at every prophy. The hygienist can show the patient the colorful image of biofilm, plaque, and calculus on their teeth. After the teeth are cleaned, it can be used again to show how the red disappears after the biofilm has been removed.
Besides general dentistry hygiene appointments, patients at specialty offices can benefit from this technology. Hygienists or assistants at the orthodontists’ office can use the technology to educate patients on how to efficiently brush around brackets, where biofilm accumulates. This is much easier with a visual of the biofilm, so the patients can see for themselves. Even the youngest patients can see the red areas around their brackets and be aware of where they are missing when brushing at home.
Pediatric hygienists can have a very positive impact with this imaging technology. Caries in children progresses quickly. According to a review on childhood caries, young children can harbor a particularly virulent form, beginning soon after the teeth erupt, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on the dentition.2 Finding biofilm early can prevent painful and destructive caries growth and promote better brushing habits as well.
In restorative or cosmetic dental offices, detecting biofilm and calculus around restorations and implants can potentially help to prevent peri-implantitis and prolong the life of dental restorations (Fig.2). Being able to spot craze lines can indicate a crack or a fracture in the tooth that, if left untreated, can cause pain or infection.
This imaging technology is available for both office and home use. The full line of devices from AIOBIO includes a range of specialty options, including the Qraycam pro, an extraoral camera for initial exams and diagnosis; the Qraypen C, a pen-like intraoral camera for capturing precise and detailed screening images; the LINKDENS VU for convenient real-time oral screening and hospital use; and the Qscan plus for patient self-assessment of oral status.3
The at-home device is a small viewer that shows biofilm as red areas when held up to the teeth. If the patient sees red, and it is still red after brushing, it is time to make an appointment to see the hygienist or dentist. The hand-held unit can be used anywhere, such as in nursing homes and other institutional settings where access to dental care can be difficult.
With the biofluorescent imaging and corresponding software, hygienists can be more confident in their biofilm and caries screening and maintenance. Patients are more inclined to trust recommendations for treatment when they can see for themselves.
References
- Berger D, Rakhamimova A, Pollack A, Loewy Z. Oral Biofilms: Development, Control, and Analysis. High Throughput. 2018 Aug 31;7(3):24. doi: 10.3390/ht7030024.
- Colak H, Dülgergil CT, Dalli M, Hamidi MM. Early childhood caries update: A review of causes, diagnoses, and treatments. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2013 Jan;4(1):29-38. doi: 10.4103/0976-9668.107257.
- AIBOBIO website. https://www.aiobio.com/home. Accessed February 22, 2026.
Figures and Images
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