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Dental PlaqueNCT06576063

Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment on Oral Hygiene in Elderly Persons

A study testing Lumoral Treatment and Standard oral hygiene methods in people with Dental Plaque and Bleeding of Subgingival Space, run by Koite Health Oy at 3 sites in Finland.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

On average, the dental condition of elderly people is poor due to various reasons. The importance of oral health maintenance of the ageing population has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), as oral health plays a key role in reaching the global goal of the "Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030". Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Lumoral Treatment and Standard oral hygiene methods
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
100 participants
Where
3 sitesFinland
Study dates
2 Jan 2025to Jun 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 65 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • An elderly (age ≥ 65 years) person living at home or at care home, with a possibility to regular dental care appointments
  • Ability to understand and sign the informed consent
  • At least 10 teeth in the mouth, including implants
  • Ability to understand and follow the study protocol, including tooth brushing and following the instructions for the use of Lumoral Treatment, based on the assessment of the investigator

Who cannot join

  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM)
  • Severe dementia or other similar conditions that may restrict understanding of the study information and protocol
  • Presence of any physical limitation or restriction that might restrict Lumoral use
  • Active smoking and use of other tobacco products
  • Use of antibiotics within 4 weeks week prior study
  • Oral thrush
  • Known sensitivity to near-infrared or antibacterial blue light.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Mikko Kylmänen, Master of Health Care contact

+358407245934

mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com

Finland3 sites, 3 recruiting
  • SuperSuu

    Loviisa, Uusimaa, 07900

    Mikko Kylmänen, 358407245934, mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com

    Harri Niskanen

    Recruiting
  • SuperSuu

    Sipoo, Uusimaa, 04130

    Mikko Kylmänen, +358407245934, mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com

    Harri Niskanen

    Recruiting
  • KotiHammas

    Vantaa, Uusimaa, 01600

    Mikko Kylmänen, +358407245934, mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com

    Harri Niskanen

    Recruiting

Other trials in Finland

About this study

Official title: Effects of the Regular Use of Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment on Oral Hygiene in Elderly Persons Living at Home or at Care Homes

On average, the dental condition of elderly people is poor due to various reasons. The importance of oral health maintenance of the ageing population has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), as oral health plays a key role in reaching the global goal of the "Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030".

New measures for maintaining good oral health are welcome. The use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and antibacterial blue light (aBL) has been studied and found to reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth. The Lumoral device is a CE-marked home medical device combining aPDT and aBL, and it is effective in reducing the development of plaque and harmful bacteria in the plaque. The device has also been shown to be easy and safe to use. In this study, a combination of regular dental appointments with the importance of enhanced dental self-care, will be tested as one regional solution for reaching the global goal set by WHO.

Read the detailed description

The ageing population is increasing rapidly worldwide. In the year 2000, there were 69 million people over the age of 80 in the world, and it is estimated that by the year 2030, 1 out of 6 persons will be 60 years of age or more worldwide. The proportion of the ageing population having their natural teeth left is also increasing. In Finland, the average number of toothless people aged over 65 has decreased from 44% measured in the year 2000 to 21% in 2011.

As people get older, their ability to function deteriorates, and the elderly, especially those living in round-the-clock care, have been found to have shortcomings in maintaining oral hygiene. Toothlessness is reduced in the elderly population living in care homes, too. According to a Study in Finland, in 2003, 52 % of inhabitants were toothless in enhanced service housing, and in 2017, the proportion of toothless had decreased to 38%. In 2017-2018, inhabitants of elderly care homes had an average of 13.8 teeth. Only a small proportion of the population had clean teeth, and the worse the level of oral hygiene, the worse the quality of life.

The World Health Organization has proposed a "Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021-2030" action plan to encourage countries to develop and implement policies and programs to promote healthy ageing and improve the quality of life in the older population. While there is an interrelation between oral and systemic health, periodontal health has been linked to several chronic systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases via shared inflammatory pathways. Good oral health enables daily functions like eating and speaking, while tooth loss, hyposalivation and other oral conditions obstruct oral functions and make nutritional intake more difficult. Bad oral condition also affects social interaction and quality of life. As oral functioning declines, it is associated with a decline in general function and weakness in the older population, and it can eventually lead even to disability and loss of independence. Therefore, the World Health Organization together with the World Dental Federation have recognized the importance of oral health maintenance and functioning to enable healthy ageing in older adults.

The dental condition of elderly persons is often poor. Cavities and dental connective tissue disease are relatively common in persons of 75 and older. Untreated oral infections predispose elderly people to pneumonia, among other complications. Chronic oral infectious diseases, and sometimes fatal complications, are preventable with good oral hygiene. Regular cleaning of the mouth and teeth from plaque is still the most important thing for keeping the mouth healthy. One third of the aged population in Finland suffers from dry mouth due to various illnesses or the use of many medications. Lack or reduction of saliva may predispose to inflammatory diseases in the mouth. If multiple medications are in use simultaneously, the dry mouth symptoms may even worsen.

The use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and antibacterial blue light, as adjunctive treatments to standard oral home care has been studied and found to reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth. The Lumoral device is a CE class IIa -marked medical device for home use that has been found to be effective in reducing the development of plaque and harmful bacteria in the plaque. The performance of the device is based on the aPDT method, in which the photosensitive substance in the Lumorinse mouthwash attaches to the bacterial coating and is activated as an antibacterial by light. The antibacterial effect is applied directly to the plaque, reducing the impact on the normal oral flora. Preliminary studies have found that the method reduces inflammatory factors in periodontitis. In addition, the heat produced by the device also enhances saliva production, which also affects maintaining good oral health. Unpublished data from a randomized clinical trial conducted by the University of Helsinki in which Lumoral was used by the residents of elderly 24-hour care also showed that the device was safe to use, and it had a significant impact on oral health measured by the Community Periodontal Index.

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Lumoral Treatment method as an adjunctive treatment on oral hygiene, inflammatory load, and dryness of mouth in elderly people living at home or at care homes, and who are regular customers with the study sites.

Being tested
Lumoral Treatment, Standard oral hygiene methods
Keywords
Lumoral, Preventive oral care, Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aBPT), aMMP-8, Plaque control, Oral hygiene
Medical subject headings
Dental Plaque

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Lumoral TreatmentDevice

    Home-use of photodynamic antibacterial dual-light device, used with a marker substance (indocyanine green)

  • Standard oral hygiene methodsBehavioural

    Best available standard oral self-care hygiene methods performed at home and instructed by oral healthcare professionals, supported by professional cleaning at the oral healthcare clinic

Study groups in NCT06576063
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Study groupExperimentalStandard oral hygiene methods and adjuvant use of Lumoral Treatment device
Receives: Device: Lumoral Treatment; Behavioral: Standard oral hygiene methods
Control groupActive comparatorStandard oral hygiene methods
Receives: Behavioral: Standard oral hygiene methods

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Bleeding on probing (BOP)

    Change in the inflammatory parameter BOP.A full-mouth assessment at six sites per tooth (mesiobuccal, buccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual, lingual, distolingual). Gingival bleeding is considered as positive if bleeding occurs within 15 seconds after gentle probing with a probe at the sulcus. Dichotomous scoring to each site of the tooth as bleeding "1 present" and "0 absent". BOP is reported as the percentage (%) of sites with positive findings.

    Calculation formula: number of bleeding sites/ 6 times number of teeth.

    Measured: 9 months

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Plaque index (RMNPI)

    Assessment of six index teeth, measured at four sites per tooth

    • Dichotomous scoring to each site of the tooth as plaque "1 present" and "0 absent"
    • RMNPI reported as the percentage (%) of sites with plaque
    • Calculation formula: number of sites with plaque/ 4 times number of teeth

    Measured: 9 months

  2. Periodontal Pocket Depth (PPD)

    A full-mouth assessment, measured at six sites per tooth. Assessed from the base of the pocket to the gingival margin (mm)

    Measured: 9 months

  3. Active matrix metalloproteinase 8 (aMMP-8)

    Change in periodontal inflammation marker aMMP-8. The oral rinse fluid sample collection and the aMMP-8 marker analysis will be performed using Periosafe test (Dentognostics GmbH) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    Measured: 9 months

  4. Oral Bacterial flora

    Quantification of periodontopathic bacteria by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis

    • Microbiological samples can be collected using Iso Taper Paper Points, size-20 (VDW GmbH) from selected gingival/periodontal pockets with maximum initial probing depth. The paper points can be placed into sterile, small-aliquot containers, and immediately stored at -20°C until analysis

    Measured: 9 months

  5. Dryness of Mouth (DOM)

    Clinical, visual assessment of oral mucosal moisture/dryness:

    0 points: Saliva secretion appears normal (saliva serous, runny)

    1. point: Oral mucosa shiny and tight; and/or saliva foamy or mucousy; and or only a little clear saliva at the bottom of mouth
    2. points: Mouth completely dry, mirror sticks to cheek or tongue, mucous membranes often reddened; and/or knuckles on the surface of the tongue have disappeared; and/or mouth appears carstic

    Measured: 9 months

  6. OHIP-14 questionnaire

    Measures people's perception of the social impact of oral disorders on their well-being.

    Fourteen items of OHIP are divided into seven dimensions: functional limitation, physical discomfort, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, and handicaps. Responses are made on a 5-point scale (from 0 = never, to 4 = very often).

    Measured: 9 months

  7. Adverse events

    Any suspicion of an adverse event related to the investigational device, the treatment method, or the study protocol.

    Measured: 9 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Aug 2024
  2. Study start2 Jan 2025
  3. Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Randomized clinical study on a medical device.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
100 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06576063
Sponsor's protocol ID
LumoKoti2024
Status last verified
Aug 2025
First submitted
26 Aug 2024
Last updated
7 Aug 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Cugini M, Thompson M, Warren PR. Correlations between two plaque indices in assessment of toothbrush effectiveness. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2006 Nov 1;7(5):1-9.

    PubMed 17091134
  • Lahteenmaki H, Patila T, Raisanen IT, Kankuri E, Tervahartiala T, Sorsa T. Repeated Home-Applied Dual-Light Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy Can Reduce Plaque Burden, Inflammation, and aMMP-8 in Peri-Implant Disease-A Pilot Study. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2022 Mar 8;44(3):1273-1283. doi: 10.3390/cimb44030085.

    PubMed 35723308
  • Nikinmaa S, Moilanen N, Sorsa T, Rantala J, Alapulli H, Kotiranta A, Auvinen P, Kankuri E, Meurman JH, Patila T. Indocyanine Green-Assisted and LED-Light-Activated Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy Reduces Dental Plaque. Dent J (Basel). 2021 May 3;9(5):52. doi: 10.3390/dj9050052.

    PubMed 34063662
  • Saarela RKT, Hiltunen K, Mantyla P, Pitkala KH. Changes in Institutionalized Older People's Dentition Status in Helsinki, 2003-2017. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2020 Jan;68(1):221-223. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16230. Epub 2019 Oct 26. No abstract available.

    PubMed 31654530
  • Saarela RKT, Hiltunen K, Kautiainen H, Roitto HM, Mantyla P, Pitkala KH. Oral hygiene and health-related quality of life in institutionalized older people. Eur Geriatr Med. 2022 Feb;13(1):213-220. doi: 10.1007/s41999-021-00547-8. Epub 2021 Jul 27.

    PubMed 34313976
  • Trujiilo K, Raisanen IT, Sorsa T, Patila T. Repeated Daily Use of Dual-Light Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy in Periodontal Disease-A Case Report. Dent J (Basel). 2022 Sep 1;10(9):163. doi: 10.3390/dj10090163.

    PubMed 36135158
  • Suominen AL, Varsio S, Helminen S, Nordblad A, Lahti S, Knuuttila M. Dental and periodontal health in Finnish adults in 2000 and 2011. Acta Odontol Scand. 2018 Jul;76(5):305-313. doi: 10.1080/00016357.2018.1451653. Epub 2018 Mar 16.

    PubMed 29546776

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Lumoral Treatment and Standard oral hygiene methods in people with Dental Plaque and Bleeding of Subgingival Space, run by Koite Health Oy at 3 sites in Finland.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Mikko Kylmänen, Master of Health Care (+358407245934, mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Bleeding on probing (BOP) (time frame: 9 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06576063, which also lists 7 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2025.

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