PIEZON technology was introduced in 1981, followed by AIRFLOW in 1982. PIEZON was developed for ultrasonic removal of calculus and AIRFLOW for removal of biofilm and stains using air, water and powder.

Subsequent milestones included the PIEZON PS Instrument in 1998, the expansion of AIRFLOW to subgingival applications with AIRFLOW PERIO powder in 2003 and the launch of PIEZON NO PAIN in 2008. The erythritol-based AIRFLOW PLUS powder followed in 2013.

More recent products include the AIRFLOW Prophylaxis Master device, the AIRFLOW MAX handpiece and the GBT Machine, a prophylaxis unit launched in 2025. The latest system incorporates Guided Laminar AIRFLOW technology and the PIEZON NO PAIN MAX module, which automatically adjusts power output according to the calculus encountered.

“Our mission is to ensure that patients enjoy coming to the dental practice. That philosophy is reflected in our ‘I FEEL GOOD’ culture,” said Celso Da Costa, chief marketing officer of EMS and global director of the SDA.

20 years of professional education

EMS founded the SDA in 2006 in recognition that technology alone does not ensure consistent treatment. Dental professionals also require an understanding of its clinical rationale, indications and application.

The academy provides theoretical and hands-on training for dentists, dental hygienists and dental teams. Courses are held at training centres and in dental practices, allowing teams to learn in their own clinical environment. According to EMS, the SDA operates in more than 70 countries, works with more than 400 trainers and reaches over 60,000 participants annually. SDA courses cover the complete GBT workflow, including assessment, biofilm disclosure, patient instruction, instrumentation and recall planning, rather than focusing solely on the operation of individual devices.

“For me, GBT certification is about being part of a community,” said Patrick Saasen, then CEO of Adent Cliniques Dentaires, a network of over 150 dentists throughout Switzerland. He described it as a way for clinicians to share knowledge, continue their training and follow a standardised protocol for the benefit of patients.

Ten years of GBT

Introduced in 2016, GBT brought established preventive concepts and EMS technologies together within a modular eight-step protocol. It is intended for professional preventive care and selected non-surgical periodontal and peri-implant applications. Over the past decade, GBT has become a widely adopted approach to professional prophylaxis and has strengthened the connection between EMS’s technologies and the educational work of the SDA.

The protocol begins with assessment and infection control, followed by biofilm disclosure. Making biofilm visible guides instrumentation and helps patients recognise areas missed during daily oral hygiene. Biofilm disclosure also supports communication between patients and dental teams by making the purpose and progress of treatment easier to understand.

After individualised oral hygiene instruction, AIRFLOW and, when indicated, PERIOFLOW are used to remove biofilm and stains. Any remaining calculus can then be removed with PIEZON technology. The final steps involve checking the treatment outcome and establishing a recall interval based on the patient’s individual risk.

GBT certification was introduced to encourage consistent implementation. Dr Ralf Lauenstein, dentist and practice owner in Bremen in Germany, said that his practice undergoes annual GBT certification and follows the protocol strictly to make its adherence to the GBT standard transparent and verifiable. More information about EMS can be found at www.ems-dental.com.