New study: Lumoral® supports plaque and bleeding control during fixed

A new randomized, assessor-blinded controlled trial investigates the effect of Lumoral’s light-activated antibacterial therapy (aPDT) as an adjunct to daily oral hygiene in adolescents starting treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances.

The results show that participants who used Lumoral® at home as an adjunct to regular oral hygiene had a greater reduction in plaque and a smaller increase in gingival bleeding compared with the control group after 12 weeks.

The study was carried out at Malmö University and Lund University in Sweden and was published in Dentistry in September 2026.

Objective and methodology: Randomized controlled trial

The aim was to investigate whether regular home treatment with dual-light aPDT can support plaque control and limit the development of gingival inflammation during the first part of a course of fixed orthodontic treatment.

Fixed orthodontic appliances can make mechanical cleaning more difficult, because brackets and bands create more areas where plaque can accumulate.

Study population: 41 adolescents aged 15 to 18 who were about to begin treatment with fixed orthodontic appliances. 39 participants were included in the final analysis.
Study design: Randomized, assessor-blinded controlled trial.
Control group: Regular oral hygiene with professional polishing and individually tailored oral hygiene instruction.
Test group: The same oral hygiene combined with home use of Lumoral® 5–7 times a week for 12 weeks.

Among other measures, the researchers recorded Visible Plaque Index (VPI), Bleeding on Probing (BOP) and Orthodontic Plaque Index (OPI) at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Clinical results: Less plaque and bleeding

After 12 weeks, the Lumoral group showed a greater average reduction in visible plaque than the control group:

Lumoral: −7.0 percentage points in VPI
Control: −3.7 percentage points in VPI

At participant level, the difference was not statistically significant. A more detailed analysis of the individual measurement sites did, however, show a significantly greater reduction in plaque-positive sites in the Lumoral group (p < 0.001).

A smaller increase in gingival bleeding was also observed in the Lumoral group:

Lumoral: +2.4 percentage points in BOP
Control: +5.7 percentage points in BOP

After 12 weeks, 85% of the participants in the Lumoral group still had BOP ≤10%, compared with 58% in the control group. At site level, too, there were fewer bleeding-positive sites in the Lumoral group (p < 0.001).

OPI, which assesses plaque around brackets, likewise showed a trend towards better results in the Lumoral group, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant.

What do the results mean?

The study indicates that Lumoral® may be a relevant adjunct to mechanical oral hygiene during fixed orthodontic treatment.

This is particularly relevant because brackets and bands can make it more difficult to keep teeth and gums free of plaque. In the study, the results for plaque, bleeding and plaque around brackets all moved in the same direction in favor of the Lumoral group.

The researchers therefore highlight the potential of using home-based dual-light aPDT as an adjunct to mechanical plaque control during this period.

The study did not examine changes in the oral microbiota, and a possible effect on the composition of the biofilm therefore remains a hypothesis that needs closer investigation.

An adjunct to daily oral hygiene

The results do not support Lumoral® replacing toothbrushing or other mechanical cleaning. On the contrary, in the study Lumoral was used as an adjunct to regular oral hygiene.

That makes the treatment relevant in situations where mechanical plaque control can be more difficult, for example during fixed orthodontic treatment.

At the same time, the study found no device- or protocol-related adverse events during the 12 weeks.

Lumoral in the clinic

If you would like to know more about how Lumoral® can be integrated into your clinic’s treatment and the patient’s self-care, you are welcome to contact us.

You can also read more about Lumoral in the clinic, including how the treatment can be used as an adjunct to professional treatment and the patient’s self-care.

Contact us if you would like to hear more about the possibilities of introducing Lumoral® in your clinic.

Source

Hashemi Elses K, Pätilä T, Roos Jansåker A-M. Efficacy of Dual-Light Photodynamic Therapy on Oral Health in Adolescents Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Randomized, Assessor-Blinded and Controlled Trial. Dentistry. 2026;14(9):564.