In the study's clinical measurements, light energy was harnessed to create an antibacterial effect on dental plaque at home. The method demonstrated significant reductions in inflammation, plaque, disease progression, and long-term burden of gum disease.
HELSINKI, Finland (April 24, 2026) A new randomized clinical trial conducted at Metropolia University in Finland during 2022–2025 has shown that dual-light antibacterial therapy significantly improves treatment outcomes in patients with periodontitis, also called gum disease, when used alongside standard dental care. Gum disease is a widespread, long-term inflammatory disorder affecting upwards of a billion individuals globally; it often results in tooth loss, a diminished quality of life, and an increased risk of broader health issues.
The study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, followed 200 patients undergoing supportive periodontal care. After as little as 3 months of treatment, patients using Lumoral®, a dual-light antibacterial therapy daily, achieved significantly better clinical outcomes than those receiving standard care alone. The researchers observed:
- After 6 months, about 51% of patients reached a Bleeding on Probing Index (BOP, a key marker of gum inflammation) below 10%. This was more than double the success rate of the control group, where only 23% reached the same level.
- Reduced levels of dental plaque formation.
- Periodontitis causes gums to pull away from teeth, creating deep, infected pockets. The study found fewer deep periodontal pockets, which are associated with disease progression and tooth loss.
The results indicate that targeted antibacterial photodynamic therapy can meaningfully improve disease control at home between routine dental visits and reduce the long-term burden of periodontal disease.
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that requires lifelong management. Even with professional care, treatment outcomes often plateau, leaving persistent inflammation that increases the risk of further disease progression.
“Standard periodontal care often reaches a plateau that is difficult to surpass. The additional home treatment helps reduce inflammation even in patients whose condition is already under clinical control,” says Saila Pakarinen, principal investigator of the study and senior lecturer at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. “These outcomes are consistent with, and expand upon, earlier studies reporting clinical benefits from adjunctive photodynamic therapy in periodontal management,” Pakarinen continued.
The Lumoral technology was originally developed by Finnish heart surgeon Tommi Pätilä, whose interest in the link between chronic infections and systemic diseases led him to explore new approaches to controlling bacterial biofilms.
“We originally became interested in this problem because I was seeing plaque inside the bodies of my heart surgery patients,” said Pätilä. “Chronic low-grade inflammation caused by bacterial biofilms is a major health problem globally. Because the time between dentist visits is often 6 months or longer, developing a method that patients can use at home to control bacterial biofilms and inflammation has the potential to significantly improve long-term disease management. Because 95 per cent of dental diseases are caused by bacteria in the plaque, regularly eliminating dental plaque improves dental hygiene as well as prevents and treats dental and gum diseases.”
Earlier laboratory studies demonstrated that this dual-light approach is effective against dental bacterial biofilms while preventing bacterial adaptation during repeated treatments. The HOPE-CP randomized clinical trial now demonstrates that the antibacterial effect translates into clinically measurable improvements in periodontal health during real-world home use.
Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) and antibacterial blue light (aBL) have emerged as promising non-antibiotic approaches for controlling biofilm-associated infections. The Lumoral device combines aPDT with aBL to promote oral health and activate the light-sensitive Lumorinse mouth rinse, thus creating a reaction that eliminates harmful bacteria from the mouth.
Further clinical studies are currently in progress and are expected to be published later in the year.
For more information:
Mikko Kylmänen
Clinical Project Manager
Koite Health
phone +358 40 724 5934
mikko.kylmanen@koitehealth.com
About the Study
Researchers from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Helsinki conducted the HOPE-CP randomized clinical trial.
Publication
Pakarinen S, Välimaa H, Heikkinen AM, et al. A randomized controlled trial of home-applied dual-light photodynamic therapy during supportive periodontal care (HOPE-CP study). Journal of Periodontology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/jper.70082
Koite Health
Koite Health is a Finnish health tech company whose innovation, Lumoral®, based on double light therapy, has revolutionized Finnish preventive dental care. The company's expert team consists of experienced doctors and technology experts. Founders Sakari Nikinmaa and Tommi Pätilä founded Koite Health in September 2018 with the help of the Biodesign project and the commercialization project funded by Business Finland and Aalto University. www.koitehealth.com
About Lumoral
Lumoral® is a home-use oral health technology developed by Koite Health, a Finnish medical technology company. The system uses dual-light antibacterial photodynamic therapy to target dental biofilm and support daily oral hygiene. www.lumoral.com
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