The International Dental Medicine Fair, commonly known as Dentex, once again brought the dental industry to the forefront from June 6-8, 2024. Organized by Zagreb Fair and the Croatian Chamber of Dental Medicine, the biennial event presented cutting-edge innovations, including Lumoral, to its visitors from Croatia and abroad.

One of the highlights of this year's event was Lumoral – a cutting-edge antibacterial therapy device developed by Finnish scientists designed to significantly improve oral hygiene when used as an adjunct therapy to regular brushing and flossing. The themes of the Dentex fair covered key areas of dentistry and dental technology.

Lumoral attracts attention

Lumoral has garnered attention for its innovative approach to maintaining oral hygiene. The device employs a dual-light photodynamic therapy that targets and eliminates harmful bacteria in the mouth, promoting healthier gums and teeth. Its user-friendly design and proven effectiveness make it an attractive option for both dental professionals and patients seeking to improve their oral health.

Lumoral's participation in Dentex reflects Croatian distribution partner Med-Faktor’s commitment to advancing dental care through innovation. Attendees at the event had the chance to experience firsthand how the Lumoral device can be integrated into their practice to enhance patient outcomes.

"The Dentex fair was a resounding success for our team. We had a spacious 50-square-meter area to showcase our products, with Lumoral drawing the most interest among visitors," said Med-Faktor Key Account Manager Marko Sever Cuglin.

With over 250 exhibitors presenting similar products like 3D printers, intraoral scanners, and implants, Lumoral stood out as a unique innovation.

"Our 'Wheel of Fortune' prize game, featuring a Lumoral starter set as the main prize, was a hit. It served as an excellent opportunity to introduce Lumoral to doctors, who were curious about its purpose, usage, and the time frame for seeing positive results in patients' oral health."

Sever Cuglin noted that dental professionals were impressed by Lumoral’s capabilities, recognizing its potential to improve treatment outcomes and serve as a preventive measure. "We gathered about 100 contacts interested in Lumoral, whom we plan to follow up with. Orthodontists were particularly excited about how Lumoral can help with braces maintenance, and periodontologists saw its potential to enhance standard dental treatments significantly."

Lumoral as a preoperative treatment

Experts in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy highlighted Lumoral’s utility as a preoperative treatment, emphasizing its effectiveness in eliminating harmful bacteria before implant placements or other surgical procedures.

"Overall, the response from the dental community was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to continuing our engagements and expanding Lumoral's reach in dental practices," Sever Cuglin added.

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Med-Faktor d.o.o. (www.medfaktor.hr), is a Croatia-based importing company established in 2010 by parent company Naturaldent Dental Group. The company is currently an exclusive distributor of products such as Medentis ICX implants, Belgian SMI sutures, NEXA3D printers and various other products for the countries of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.

The 17th MegaGen International Symposium in Rome, Italy, will be held from May 30 to June 1, 2024. Organized by MegaGen, a leading dental implant company, the event gathers dental experts worldwide to discuss the latest technologies in implantology. Lumoral will be spotlighted at the event for its contribution to enhancing oral health for patients undergoing or considering implant treatments.

With the theme "All Roads Lead to Rome - Revolutionary Advances; The Journey to Full Mouth Restorations with Immediate Implants", the MegaGen symposium serves as a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and professional development.  

At the event, attendees can participate in lectures, workshops, and hands-on training sessions led by renowned speakers and key opinion leaders in the oral health field. Topics covered during the symposium will include digital dentistry, immediate implant placement, surgical techniques, prosthetic dentistry, and more.

– For our Lumoral team, the event offers an invaluable opportunity to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in the field of implantology. It also provides professionals in the implant industry with a great chance to introduce themselves with antibacterial Lumoral treatment and the benefits it offers to patients, says Tero Pasanen, Chief Commercial Officer of Koite Health Ltd.

Expanding Implant Market Spurs Demand for Lumoral Antibacterial Treatment

The global dental implants market is flourishing because of a growing prevalence of dental diseases and tooth loss, an aging population, and the rapid adoption of technological advancements and digital technologies, such as computer-aided design and 3D printing, in dental implant materials and design. 

Pasanen notes that with the implant industry expanding, the need for advanced oral hygiene methods, including Lumoral, is also growing. 

Finnish health technology company Koite Health Ltd. has been in a Lumoral distribution agreement with MegaGen Italia since May of last year. Pasanen notes that the event in Rome is a natural progression of the collaboration, helping to raise awareness of antibacterial light-activated Lumoral treatment among the participants.

Oral home care is very important for the health of dental implants. Because 95 percent 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 disease. Proper oral hygiene combined with regular use of Lumoral could be decisive in preventing periodontitis and peri-implantitis.

Lumoral brings many benefits to implant patients: it helps sustain oral bacterial diversity while reducing plaque bacteria, it reduces gingivitis and plaque and tartar formation, and treats and prevents periodontitis and peri-implantitis efficiently.

– We believe that it is an excellent idea that dentists would offer a Lumoral device to all their implant patients to help prevent peri-implantitis and help keep the implants healthy, Mr. Federico Annoni from Megagen Italia said in an earlier interview.

The Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund (Nokian Kumiväen Sairauskassa) has entered into a partnership agreement with Finnish health technology company Koite Health Oy, deciding to increasingly focus on the oral health of its insured members. The fund will now reimburse the costs of Lumoral treatment for its insured members, providing a valuable additional benefit for maintaining oral health.

Lumoral is an innovative Finnish health technology solution that supports users' oral health by treating and preventing infections of the teeth and gums. The fund sees its solution as an important step towards preventive healthcare.

– The decision is based on thorough consideration and discussions with the fund's board. The board recognized the opportunities offered by the Lumoral device and unanimously decided to approve it as part of the benefits offered by the sickness fund, says Piia Virolainen, CEO of the Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund.

Piia Virolainen, CEO of the Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund.

Studies show that poor oral health is one of the major risk factors behind many common diseases, as inflamed gums and damaged tooth surfaces provide a direct route for bacteria.

– Oral infections are remarkably common globally, and they contribute to the onset of serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart, lung, and kidney diseases, says Tommi Pätilä, a heart and organ transplant surgeon at HUS Children's Hospital, in Helsinki. Pätilä is also one of the developers of the Lumoral method.

– As the population ages, we are inevitably heading towards difficult times in healthcare and its financial management. Oral infections significantly increase the need for hospitalization and its complications. Therefore, investing in oral care and its comprehensive understanding – especially in the prevention of dental diseases – pays off multiple times in the future, Pätilä continues.

Oral diseases are a significant expense

According to Virolainen, the decision will practically mean that regular Lumoral treatment, including Lumorinse tablets, will be covered for the health fund's insured members as part of the fund's dental benefit.

– Regular Lumoral treatment has an impact on oral health, but it also affects the overall well-being of its users. The Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund is constantly striving to improve the well-being and health of its insured members. The reimbursement of Lumoral device and Lumorinse tablets is one step towards this goal, emphasizes Virolainen.

Virolainen states that the Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund reimburses the most research and treatment costs. The next highest reimbursement is for insured members' dental treatment costs.

– Dental diseases can lead to significant costs, making our fund's dental benefit a highly valued and frequently utilized resource among our insured members. Quick access to dental care, without the inconvenience of waiting, is considered essential by our insured members, Virolainen adds.

According to Lumoral Area Manager Riikka Nisula, local dental clinics have eagerly welcomed the decision of the Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund to reimburse Lumoral and Lumorinse tablets because prevention and enhancing self-care support professional treatment.

The antibacterial Lumoral treatment effectively removes harmful bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth and gum lines. Home-administered Lumoral treatment has been found to be significantly more effective and better tolerated than chlorhexidine-based mouthwashes, which are commonly used today.

Nisula emphasizes that the antibacterial treatment is carried out as an additional treatment to mechanical teeth cleaning and does not replace the need to brush teeth and clean between teeth. So why is additional treatment to enhance mechanical oral hygiene needed?

According to studies, brushing teeth removes only 65% of plaque. Residual plaque remains in the mouth after even the most effective teeth brushing. Lumoral helps to remove this residual plaque. With regular Lumoral treatment, the tooth surfaces are properly cleaned.

Antibacterial treatment has also been shown to prevent and treat infections of the tissues surrounding implants. The treatment is suitable for everyone, but light-activated antibacterial treatment is seen as most effective for patients who need enhanced oral hygiene.

The Nokia Rubber Workers' Sickness Fund is a so-called supplementary fund that reimburses insured members for additional benefits according to its rules. The fund has about 1,200 insured members. Altogether, there are about 110 health funds operating in Finland, whose insured members consist of employees and/or office personnel. In many funds, retirees can continue to be insured by the fund, and in some funds, family members are also entitled to reimbursements.

For more information:  

Sakari Nikinmaa
CEO, Koite Health
+358 40 8222 034, sakari@koitehealth.com

Piia Virolainen
CEO, Nokian Kumiväen Sairauskassa
+358 50577015,5 toimisto@nokiankumivaensairauskassa.fi