On October 27th and 28th, the Spanish Federation of Dental Hygienists (HIDES) hosted its 34th National Congress in Valladolid, Spain. The event attracted around 300 attendees, including dental hygienists, sponsors, and international speakers. At the congress, Gianfranco Panzironi, a Lumoral consultant, received an award for his poster presentation on the science and advantages of home-use antibacterial Lumoral therapy.

– The purpose of the poster was to explain and disseminate the mechanism of action of photodynamic therapy. I initially introduced the topic telling how photodynamic therapy was discovered by Oscar Raab in 1900. Then, I examined and described the method Lumoral in all its features, explains Gianfranco Panzironi, a researcher, oral hygienist, and lecturer.

In the poster, Panzironi explained the science behind home-use antibacterial Lumoral therapy: for instance, what is role of using indocyanine green as a photosensitiser is in the Lumoral treatment. He also highlighted the significance of the simultaneous 405 nm and 810 nm LED light in the Lumoral device for its bactericidal properties.

– My presentation led to many questions, especially regarding the origin of the Lumoral innovation. Winning the poster competition prize brings me great joy, and I'm grateful to Lumoral for their support and the continuous inspiration they've provided since the beginning, Mr Panzironi notes.

At the event’s Lumoral stand, Koite Health Ltd. Chief Commercial Officer (COO) Tero Pasanen was present explaining to oral health specialists together with Mr Panzironi how antibacterial Lumoral method works and how it enhances oral home care.

The atmosphere at the two-day event was friendly and full of enthusiasm, Mr. Panzironi says.

– The presence of Lumoral was something truly new and it caught the attention of visitors. Being a Finnish innovation further heightened curiosity due to Finland's reputation for scientific advancements and oral hygiene emphasis.

Periodontal disease affects many

Numerous dental hygienists visited the Lumoral stand, with their primary interest centered on the green Lumorinse mouthwash in the measuring cup and the active dual-light device. Meanwhile, more experienced colleagues asked for information especially on indication for use and clinical protocols. A common question was how to purchase the starter kit and Lumorinse mouthwash product.

– Mr. Tero Pasanen and I received many thanks and compliments from young dental hygiene students because we have allowed them to learn about a new technology applied to dental prevention. As young students are the future of the oral health profession, it is important for them to learn the latest technologies and procedures that they can't find in the classic textbooks, Mr. Panzironi highlights.

The Dental Council of Spain reports that periodontal disease impacts 25.5% of adults aged 35-44, with a higher prevalence of 33% among those aged 65-74. Dental caries remains a concern in Spain, affecting 35% of young people aged 6-17.

– In my opinion, in the recent years there has been a greater attention to oral hygiene in Spain and this is also due to the presence on market of oral care products from international brands, Mr. Panzironi says.

The National Congress organized by HIDES is held annually in a different city of Spain attracting visitors from all over the country. The next 35th HIDES National Congress will take place on 4-5 October 2024 in Oviedo and will be hosted by HIDES Asturias.

Finland is a rather conservative country when it comes to dental implant treatments. Unlike in many other European countries, where demand for implants is growing strongly as the population ages, the growth in Finland has remained relatively moderate over the past 10-15 years. However, the need for implants is no less in our country.

According to specialist dentist Pekka Kallio, around 30 000 new dental implants are placed in Finland every year. In relation to the population, the number of implants in Italy, for example, is four times higher than in Finland. Meanwhile, around 100 million implants have been placed in patients' mouths worldwide so far. Around 10 million new dental implant treatments are done every year.

According to Kallio, the high cost of implant treatment in Finland compared to many other countries is often a barrier to more significant growth in the implantology business.

- However, with implant surgery becoming increasingly digitally guided, it is possible that patients in Finland will not have to pay so much for their implant treatments in the future. Price competition in the sector has already increased in Finland, without compromising the quality of treatment, says Kallio. 

Kallio has been a specialist dentist himself for almost 25 years. He recalls that dental implants come in handy when, for example, a patient needs a strong foundation for crowns or bridges.

According to Kallio, the success of implant treatments depends on both the experience of the dentist and the choice of the patient. All the implant brands used in Finland are of high quality, so the success of implant treatment is not dependent on the implant itself. A patient's previous history of periodontitis is also not an obstacle to implant treatment.

- However, periodontal disease must be treated and well maintained before implant treatment. The most important risk factor for treatment failure is smoking. Diabetes is another important risk factor to consider in treatment, says Kallio.

A healthy mouth is the basis for successful implant treatment

Oral home care, including thorough daily brushing and flossing and regular dentist check-ups are essential for the prognosis of the treatment. There is room for improvement in the oral home care of implant patients. The idea that implants are eternal and better than one's own teeth is wrong, says Kallio.

Peri-implantitis is a serious gum disease that affects the well-being of implants and can lead to implant loss if left untreated. Although implant treatments generally have a good success rate, on average one implant is lost every four minutes. This translates into around 140,000 lost implants per year. Around 50% of implant patients develop peri-implantitis over time, according to figures from Dentognostics.

Kallio points out that successful implant treatment requires a healthy mouth.

- Periodontal disease and implant treatments are not at all compatible. The risk of infection is high and, in the long run, teeth weakened by periodontal disease will cause excessive pressure to dental implants and bridges.  

After implant surgery, the surgical site is tender. In addition, sutures make cleaning difficult. Today, antiseptic mouthwashes are used to kill oral bacteria after surgery. However, they have side effects, including discolouration of the teeth, says Kallio. 

Antibacterial Lumoral treatment has also shown good results in the treatment of dental implant-related infections.

- In my studies, the amount of plaque and gum bleeding in patients was significantly reduced compared to the initial situation, and there were no side effects associated with the use of Lumoral, says Hanna Lähteenmäki, a YAMK oral hygienist who was awarded the title of Oral Hygienist of the Year 2022.

Kallio also feels that Lumoral is a promising product for implant patients.

- I use it selectively with my patients who have challenges with oral home care or other factors that affect the prognosis of their treatment.

- I recommend using Lumoral daily for 2 weeks before surgery and 2 weeks after surgery.  Most patients continue to use it at the normal 2 times a week dosage.

Even with successful implant placement, implants do not always remain healthy. According to Kallio long term follow-up studies have show inflammation and bone loss around implants, known as peri-implantitis. It occurs in about one fifth of implants after a ten-year follow-up.  Treatment of these often requires complex treatment by a specialist dentist. 

- Here too, careful oral home care is a prerequisite for successful treatment.  Lumoral is, in my opinion, an affordable insurance not only to improve the long-term prognosis of implant treatment, but also to prevent many other oral health risks, such as caries and periodontitis. For patients with dry mouth problems, Lumoral provides a definite improvement. The ease of use of Lumoral and the immediate feeling of dental cleanliness it provides has brought many positive comments from my patients.

Finnish health technology company Koite Health has signed a distribution accord with Megagen Italia, which markets cutting-edge dental implant systems and advanced surgical devices. As a kickoff to the new collaboration, both companies will be present with a joint stand at the upcoming Expodental Meeting event in Rimini, Italy, on 18— 20 May 2023.

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 technology advancements and digital technologies, such as computer-aided design and 3D printing, in dental implant materials and design.

In Italy, dental implants are also very common. We are talking about over 2.5 million Italians yearly who resort to fixed prostheses. 

According to Mr. Federico Annoni from Megagen Italia, the implant market is constantly growing in Italy due to the rapidly aging population and because many people neglect their oral health. This contributes to the loss of natural teeth. Thus, the use of implants is necessary. 

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

Megagen sees Koite Heath as a great partner with its Lumoral teeth cleaning method since it brings innovation in oral hygiene and prevention of oral infections. This collaboration also brings in implant patients more awareness of oral health, says Annoni.

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.

Megagen will participate at the upcoming Expodental Meeting event in Rimini, Italy, with two stands – one exclusively dedicated to Megagen products and another devoted solely to Lumoral where two of your specialists will be present, Annoni says.

Everyone could use Lumoral according to their needs, he adds. The device is easy to use regularly, and the method helps maintain better oral hygiene for those who suffer from serious infections such as peri-implantitis and periodontitis and those who do not suffer from them but want only to improve their oral health.

– We believe that Lumoral could be the next “big thing” in the oral health care market that will help boost the oral health of Italian people and, at the same time, help save public health care costs, Annoni concludes.

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Facts: Global Dental Implants Market 

Dental implants are an effective solution to fill any gaps or spaces within the mouth caused by missing or damaged teeth. Dental implants are metal devices surgically implanted into the jawbone below the gums to support artificial teeth. The process by which these implants fuse with the bone is called osseointegration, and they resemble screw-shaped prosthetic tooth roots. Once the dental implants are inserted into the jawbone, they fuse with the natural bone to create a sturdy foundation for one or more artificial teeth, called crowns. An abutment is attached to the dental implant to hold and support the crowns. Crowns can be customized to fit the shape and contour of natural teeth for a comfortable fit within the mouth.

Developed countries have more dental implant users, primarily due to their better resources, higher per capita income, a more significant concern for aesthetics, and heightened awareness. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to experience the highest growth rate during the forecast period due to its increasing economic stability and disposable income, as well as its dense population burdened by a growing senior population.

50 million implants have been inserted globally so far, while 10 million new implants are being inserted in patients' mouths each year. Maintaining the health of implants is crucial. 

Peri-implantitis is a serious gum disease that impacts the health of implants and can lead to loss of them, if left untreated. Despite impressive success rates, one implant is still lost every four minutes, which translates into 140,000 cases per year.

Around 50% of implant patients will develop peri-implant mucositis over time. Approximately one-third of all patients will develop clinically manifested peri-implantitis.

(Source: Dentognostics)