The Effect of Local Phototherapy on Gingival Inflammation - A Randomized Controlled Study

• Aim: To investigate if a toothbrush with incorporated 450 nm LEDs used in daily oral care can reduce dental plaque and gingival inflammation.Materials and methods: An 8-week single blinded randomized clinical trial comparing toothbrushes with and without 450 nm blue LED light emission including 48 subjects. Clinical parameters of interest were plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Analyzes were also made on Interleukin-1β (IL), IL-6, IL -8, and Tumor necrosis factor alpha.Results: A significant reduction in PI, GI and BOP was detected within the groups from baseline to follow-up visit, but no statistical differences between subjects using a toothbrush with 450 nm blue light and a toothbrush without light. Significant decreases in the levels of both MMP-8 and TIMP-1 in saliva, and IL-1b and IL-8 in GCF for the blue light toothbrush groups.Conclusion: A toothbrush with 450 nm LEDs did not yield any statistical significant adjunctive effect to tooth brushing with regard to reduction in gingival inflammation. A larger decrease in PI for the blue light toothbrush compared to control was found at a significance level of p=0.058. To get an optimal phototherapeutic effect we suggest that a wavelength of 405 nm should be used in future studies.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Analytisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Analytical Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Analytical Chemistry

analytisk kemi

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)