Using light therapy at home to improve dental hygiene: a study on healthy adults

ISRCTN ISRCTN86890686
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN86890686
Submission date
13/03/2025
Registration date
28/03/2025
Last edited
14/03/2025
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Oral Health
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Toothbrushing, whether with an electric or manual toothbrush, often leaves 35–50% of plaque behind. Regular use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy has emerged as a promising method to enhance oral hygiene at home. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the antibacterial Lumoral® light-activated treatment in reducing dental plaque as part of daily dental care in healthy volunteers.

Who can participate?
Healthy adults who do not have fixed orthodontic appliances, fixed partial dentures, advanced periodontitis, significant pathology in the oral cavity, or restorable caries lesions. Participants should not have used antibiotics within the last month, should not smoke, and should not have had recent professional dental cleaning or participated in other oral health examinations.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive oral hygiene instructions and use Lumoral® as an additional plaque control method twice a week. The other group will receive oral hygiene instructions alone. Dental plaque will be measured at the start and after four weeks using the Rustogi-modified Navy Plaque Index. Researchers who do not know which group participants are in will conduct the measurements.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improved dental hygiene and reduced plaque levels. Risks are minimal but may include mild discomfort from using the Lumoral® device.

Where is the study run from?
Koite Health Ltd. (Finland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2022 to March 2023

Who is funding the study?
The study was performed in collaboration with the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and Koite Health Ltd.
Koite Health Ltd. provided the investigational devices for the study. No direct financial contributions to the researchers or the study center were made.

Who is the main contact?
Mikko Kylmänen, mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com

Contact information

Mr Mikko Kylmänen
Public

Karaportti 5
Espoo
02610
Finland

Phone +358 407245934
Email mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com
Dr Tommi Pätilä
Scientific

Stenbäckinkatu 9
Helsinki
00290
Finland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-2219-4689
Phone +358 440130770
Email tommi.patila@gmail.com
Ms Saila Pakarinen
Principal Investigator

Myllypurontie 1
Helsinki
00790
Finland

Phone +358 75167956
Email pakarinen.saila@metropolia.fi

Study information

Study designInterventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Dental clinic
Study typeEfficacy
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleRegularly home-applied dual-light photodynamic therapy on dental hygiene- a prospective randomized study in healthy adults
Study acronymSHINE
Study hypothesisThe Lumoral® treatment, when used twice a week as an adjunct to regular oral care, improves oral hygiene in healthy individuals.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 31/01/2023, The Human Sciences Ethics Committee of the Helsinki Region Universities of Applied Sciences (Myllypurontie 1, Helsinki, 00920, Finland; +358 401937758; eettinen.toimikunta@metropolia.fi), ref: § 8/2023

ConditionDental plaque
InterventionAt baseline and at 4-week follow-up (+/- 1 week), the biofilm of the subjects' mouths is stained using plaque dye, and clinical plaque index measurements is obtained.

After the baseline visit, study subjects are given comprehensive oral self-care instructions including mechanical biofilm removal from free tooth surfaces and interdental spaces.

Those randomized in the Treatment group are given a Lumoral® Treatment device and thorough verbal and written instructions to perform dual-light aPDT at home in addition to the comprehensive oral self-care instructions.

The participants are randomly assigned to the test and control groups using a sealed envelope technique.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Not Applicable
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Lumoral
Primary outcome measureDental plaque levels measured using the Rustogi-modified Navy Plaque Index from clinical plaque staining and scoring at Baseline and Week 4 (+/-1 week)
Secondary outcome measuresSubjective experience of using the Lumoral® Treatment device measured using a structured questionnaire at Week 4 (+/-1 week)
Overall study start date26/08/2022
Overall study end date31/03/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit70 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants15
Total final enrolment15
Participant inclusion criteriaSubjects had to be from 18 to 70 years’ age and good general health assessed by study participants themselves.
Participant exclusion criteria1. Oral health-related issues, including fixed orthodontic appliances, fixed partial dentures, advanced periodontitis, significant pathology in the oral cavity, or restorable caries lesions.
2. Medication-related issues, including use of antibiotics within one month.
3. Other factors, including smoking, participation in other oral health examinations, and recent professional dental cleaning.
Recruitment start date15/02/2023
Recruitment end date03/03/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Finland

Study participating centre

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Myllypuro Campus
Myllypurontie 1
Helsinki
00920
Finland

Sponsor information

Koite Health Ltd.
Industry

Karaportti 5
Espoo
02610
Finland

Phone +358 407245934
Email mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com
Website https://koitehealth.com/

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Koite Health Ltd.

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/05/2025
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planNo plan to share IPD.

Editorial Notes

13/03/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by The Human Sciences Ethics Committee of the Helsinki Region Universities of Applied Sciences