Periodontitis is a common disease that damages the tissues supporting the teeth. Daily brushing and cleaning between the teeth are essential, but even with good routines, people can still develop plaque and gum inflammation. Light-based treatments are known to eliminate plaque bacteria effectively, but until now, they have mostly been used in dental offices, and their potential for home use has not been tested. In the HOPE-CP study, we enrolled 200 adults with periodontitis to receive routine supportive periodontal care. Half of them were randomized to use a light-based antibacterial device to support their daily oral hygiene at home. After 3 and 6 months, those using the device had less gum bleeding, less visible plaque, and fewer sites with deeper periodontal pockets than those who used routine care alone. These results show that using a daily antibacterial light treatment at home may help people better control inflammation and maintain healthier gums between dental visits.
Pakarinen et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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