New advances in periodontitis treatment: Lumoral study makes progress in Lithuania

A promising study is underway in Lithuania to investigate the effectiveness of Lumoral Treatment medical device in treating more severe stages of periodontitis. The study "Regular home-use of dual-light photodynamic therapy in the management of chronic stage III-IV periodontitis", LumoKaunas2023 for short, was launched in August 2023 in Kaunas, Lithuania. The principal investigator of the study is Associate Professor Ingrida Pacauskiené, and the research team also includes Professor Vita Mačiulskienė, Dr Renata Šadzevičienė and Raimonda Guntulytė, dentist.

LumoKaunas2023 is a clinical study that investigates the effects of regular use of the Lumoral device in the treatment of chronic, advanced (stage III-IV) periodontitis. A total of 60 subjects will be recruited, of whom 38 have already joined the study so far. Lumoral's light-activated treatment combines the use of Lumorinse mouthwash with antibacterial light therapy, which has been shown in previous studies (HOPE-CP) to facilitate the management of milder forms of periodontitis.

"With LumoKaunas2023, researchers are now looking to see if Lumoral is similarly effective for more severe cases of periodontitis that require more treatment," says Mikko Kylmänen, clinical research project manager at Koite Health Oy, who just recently visited the Lithuanian research team in Lithuania.

According to Kylmänen, the research process is overseen by a local monitoring company, Insuvia UAB, to ensure high quality data collection and processing. Close monitoring of the data will help the research team to draw reliable conclusions about Lumoral's effectiveness.

Important information on periodontal treatment

Periodontitis is a common but serious disease that causes inflammation and tissue damage to the gum tissue and supporting tissues around the teeth. More severe cases of periodontitis carry significant risks, including tooth loss and the risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body. The antibacterial effect of Lumoral is shown to offer a new treatment option, particularly for intractable periodontitis.

"The previous Lumoral study HOPE-CP showed Lumoral to be an effective adjunct treatment for the management of milder cases of periodontitis. The LumoKaunas2023 study deepens this knowledge and provides insights into if the device could also benefit patients with more advanced disease," Kylmänen says.

Future perspectives

The LumoKaunas2023 study highlights an international effort to explore the effectiveness of the Lumoral device in managing chronic periodontitis. So far, the Lithuanian research team has made promising progress, and they are on track to meet recruitment targets, which will help ensure the study is completed as planned by early autumn 2025.

"We look forward to seeing more evidence on how Lumoral can enhance periodontitis treatment outcomes, particularly in severe cases," says Kylmänen.

Periodontal disease treatment is evolving, and Lumoral presents an exciting adjunct to traditional approaches, potentially offering substantial benefits for patients with advanced gum disease. The LumoKaunas2023 study marks an essential step toward more effective treatments that support oral health and mitigate the impact of periodontal disease.