To maintain peri-implant health, biofilm removal is crucial.

Labrida BioClean is a clinically proven solution for effective debridement of dental implant surfaces. Plaque-forming bacteria can build up on the base of dental implants, resulting in an inflammation of the surrounding soft- and hard-tissue. Removal of these bacteria from the infected dental implant surface is the first and very important  step in biofilm management.

In this interview, Dr. Caspar Wohlfahrt shares his thoughts and passion for maintaining dental health.

1.      Dr. Wohlfahrt, what drives your passion for peri-implant health?

After many years of clinical work and research on peri-implantitis, I realized, as many of my peers, that there is no remedy for an established peri-implantitis. The solution is to avoid the problem through maintenance of peri-implant health. The passion lies in a hope to be able to help our patients in the least involving way, – i.e., with minimal morbidity and cost. That is why I invented Labrida BioClean®.

2.     Tell me about your research background and interest, – which projects have enjoyed the most?

Doing the clinical studies on Labrida BioClean®, and now also on a chitosan gel, Labrida GeliX™, together with competent colleagues, is very inspiring. Knowing that our research has contributed to oral health makes this work meaningful. Focusing on maintaining peri-implant and periodontal health, to avoid the more severe stages of disease is of vast importance for our patients. It also leads to reducing very challenging and unpredictable treatments of advanced periodontitis and peri-implantitis for our colleagues in the field.

3.      What is your experience with peri-implantitis?

Peri-implantitis is common, widespread, and unpredictable and creates a lot of challenges for the clinicians. This disease entity often leads to disappointing and demanding situations for the patients. Surgical treatment of peri-implantitis often has a high level of morbidity for the patient. It is a huge advantage for both patients and the dental community if such situations can be avoided in the future. I hope that Labrida can contribute to this.

4.      You are the inventor of Labrida BioClean®. How did you come up with the idea for this product? Tell the Labrida story

I completed my specialist education as a periodontist in 2004 at the University of Minnesota. At that time the knowledge of peri-implantitis still was in its early days. Returning to Norway, I started my periodontal specialist practice, and my dental hygienists were asking for instruments that were specifically designed for debridement of dental implants. While my PhD-thesis had the focus on regenerative treatment of peri-implant defects it was clear to me that avoiding the problem is better than unpredictable treatment strategies for established peri-implantitis. After considering several options, I landed on a brush, that would easily access the threads of an implant. It was important that the brush wouldn’t harm the implant surface, and that any remains would be resorbed. Thus, I chose chitosan as the material for the brush fibres. This brush was the basis for the company Labrida, that was established in 2012. As of today, more than 100 000 brushes have been sold, and the clinical efficacy is clearly demonstrated in multiple studies. Professional use of Labrida BioClean® 2-4 times a year, contributes to implant health and stable conditions. Lately it has also been documented that the brush can be used to clean teeth with periodontal disease.

5.      What will you do in 10 years from now?

I foresee a future with less peri-implantitis, because of the work we are doing together as researchers and clinicians-. I will continue to strive to help people achieve oral health, based on my inventions and research, as well as on my clinical work as a periodontist. This is not only a mild interest, – It’s a true passion for dental health!