Last reviewed: May 14, 2026 · By DentalAirPolisher Editorial Team
Three structured prophylaxis protocols, three different manufacturers, three different philosophies. GBT (EMS, 8 steps), MIT (NSK, 5 steps), ABC (Woodpecker, 3 stages). Which one fits your clinic — and which equipment locks you in.
GBT is the most-evidenced protocol with the strongest patient-experience marketing. It's an 8-step in-appointment workflow that locks you into the EMS ecosystem (Airflow Prophylaxis Master or GBT Machine) and erythritol powder. Premium price tier, premium positioning.
MIT is the most clinically rigorous on the periodontal side. It maps NSK equipment to the EFP S3 guideline for stage I-III periodontitis — a 5-step pathway from assessment to maintenance, not just an appointment-level workflow. Best fit for periodontal-heavy practices.
ABC is the most cost-accessible structured workflow. Three stages — Assess, Biofilm Removal, Clean — built around the Woodpecker PT-E and PT-B combined tabletop systems. Lower capital cost, less formal certification depth.
| Dimension | GBT | MIT | ABC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | EMS | NSK | Woodpecker |
| Structure | 8-step in-appointment workflow | 5-step patient pathway (Step 0-4) | 3-stage in-appointment workflow |
| Scope | One appointment | Full periodontal pathway | One appointment |
| Clinical anchor | Biofilm management | EFP S3 periodontitis guideline | Combined tabletop hardware workflow |
| Signature powder | Erythritol (PLUS) | Glycine (SOFT pearl, Perio Mate Powder) | Glycine / sodium bicarbonate |
| Required hardware | EMS Airflow PM / GBT Machine | NSK Varios Combi Pro2 + Prophy-Mate neo + Perio-Mate + Varios 970 | Woodpecker PT-E or PT-B |
| Certification | "GBT-certified practice" via Swiss Dental Academy | NSK Academy training, no formal "MIT-certified" status | Distributor-led training, no formal status |
| Price tier | Premium | Premium | Cost-competitive |
| Evidence base | 400,000+ patient EMS survey; multiple peer-reviewed studies | EFP S3 guideline alignment; clinical case studies | Manufacturer materials; less independent evidence |
| Best fit | General prophylaxis + GBT certification marketing | Periodontal-heavy practices, perio specialists | Multi-chair cost-conscious clinics |
| Limitation | EMS lock-in, premium cost | Multiple devices needed, premium NSK equipment | Less formal recognition, evidence base smaller |
GBT structures a single appointment into 8 named steps from assessment through recall. The signature moves are Step 4 (Airflow with erythritol — supragingival biofilm removal) and Step 5 (Perioflow with low-abrasion subgingival nozzle in pockets ≥4 mm and around implants). The protocol is order-strict: biofilm removal happens before ultrasonic scaling, not after. This is the opposite of the traditional prophylaxis order and is GBT's clinical signature. Read the full GBT guide.
MIT is broader. Where GBT is one appointment, MIT defines the patient's entire periodontal journey: Step 0 assessment, Step 1 supragingival treatment + behaviour change, Step 2 subgingival non-surgical therapy, Step 3 surgical therapy if needed, Step 4 supportive maintenance. The framework is aligned with the European Federation of Periodontology S3 Level Clinical Practice Guideline for stage I-III periodontitis. NSK maps specific instruments to each step — Prophy-Mate neo for Step 1, Perio-Mate for Step 2, Varios 970 piezo scaler across, VarioSurg 4 for Step 3. Read the full MIT guide.
ABC is the most pragmatic. Three stages designed to make the most of Woodpecker's combined tabletop hardware: Assess the patient and case, Biofilm Removal via air polishing, Clean with ultrasonic scaling and final quality check. The protocol is less codified than GBT or MIT — closer to a structured prompt sheet than a certification programme. It's also the cheapest entry point into structured prophylaxis. Read the full ABC guide.
This is the practical question buyers care about most. Each protocol is tied to specific manufacturer equipment:
In practice yes, in marketing no. Many clinics deliver "structured prophylaxis" combining ideas from GBT (the appointment-level discipline), MIT (the patient-pathway thinking) and ABC (the workflow simplicity) on equipment from one or two manufacturers — without formal certification under any protocol. This is fine clinically. The trade-off is you can't market your clinic as "GBT-certified" or "MIT-aligned" without the formal certification and equipment that goes with it.
GBT has the deepest published evidence base — multiple peer-reviewed studies, the 400,000-patient EMS survey reporting 94.1% patient preference over conventional prophylaxis, and clinical work out of the University of Zurich. MIT's evidence rests on the underlying EFP S3 guideline, which is itself heavily evidence-based for periodontal therapy. ABC has the smallest independent evidence footprint — most of the published material comes from Woodpecker itself.
For evidence-driven buyers, this matters. For clinics where the protocol is a structuring framework rather than a marketing claim, the evidence depth matters less and the cost/distributor question dominates.