Finnish health technology group Koite Health will participate in the upcoming third edition of the Igienista Dentale 3.0 (Dental Hygienist 3.0) congress on March 4, 2023, in Rome, Italy. The now sold-out congress will return to the prestigious venue of the Tor Vergata University in Rome after a break since 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

The Igienista Dentale 3.0 event is focused primarily on dental hygiene professionals. The congress comes only shortly before Germany's IDS Cologne event where Koite Health will also showcase its Lumoral-method – an innovative technology designed to enhance oral home care for the prevention and treatment of gum diseases and dental caries.

– Our goal is to increase the visibility of the Lumoral brand and identify potential commercial partners, says Koite Health's Chief Commercial Officer Tero Pasanen.

– Italy is an important market for Lumoral. We aim to expand to some of the largest nations in the European Union as fast as possible. This way we can offer our European customers access to better oral hygiene. Through our expansion we seek to give patients who suffer from periodontitis a chance to stop the progression of the disease and to help tackle the ever-growing problem of peri-implantitis, Pasanen adds.

Lumoral will be represented at the Italian event by Italian dental hygienist professional Gianfranco Panzironi.

Panzironi has written a scientific paper titled "Home photodynamic therapy as a means of prevention for biofilm control" that explores the role of dental plaque in causing oral problems and the benefits of Lumoral in prevention of oral problems.

– Prevention is the pillar against oral diseases and compliance with correct oral hygiene techniques is essential to preserve the normal microbiome and maintain the health of the oral cavity. Among the new technologies that allow the patient to control the biofilm comfortably and effectively, a device for the home application of antibacterial photodynamic therapy stands out.

Lumoral is a cutting-edge medical device that is designed to improve oral hygiene and significantly improve oral health. Lumoral offers anti-inflammatory treatment for various groups of patients – even those with difficult-to-treat oral conditions such as severe gum disease, and periodontitis. Lumoral is scientifically proven to be the best available home care treatment for periodontal patients and implant maintenance.

IDS 2023 will be organised from 14 to 18 of March in Messe Cologne. Koite Health recently signed a distribution agreement with white cross GmbH, a German distribution and training company specializing in oral health prevention. Following the agreement white cross will focus its marketing efforts on over 55.000 dentistry professionals in the German market to promote the use of Lumoral.

A study led by researchers from the University of Plymouth and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust in the UK shows that bacteria known to cause oral infections may also be a contributory factor in patients developing potentially life-threatening abscesses on the brain.

The study, published in the Journal of Dentistry, investigated brain abscesses and their association with bacteria that occur in the oral cavity. While this type of abscess is relatively uncommon, it can result in significant mortality and morbidity.

The study examined the records of 87 hospitalised patients with brain abscesses. Through analysing samples of the abscesses and peripheral cultures, they collected microbiological data.

Researchers found that the 52 patients who had no diagnosable cause for their abscess, were three times more likely to have oral bacteria present.

In particular, the team noted the presence of Streptococcus anginosus. This bacteria can lead to “pharyngitis, bacteremia, and infections in internal organs such as the brain, lung, and liver. This bacteria is often found in dental abscesses.” Writing in the study, researchers say the findings suggest that the oral cavity could be considered a source of infection in cases of brain abscess where no clear cause has been identified.

- While many potential causes of brain abscesses are recognised, the origin of infection often remains clinically unidentified. However, it was still surprising to frequently find orally occurring bacteria in brain abscesses of unexplained origin. It highlights the importance of using more sensitive techniques to assess the oral cavity as a potential bacterial source in brain abscess patients. It also highlights the importance of improving dental care and oral hygiene more generally, Dr Holly Roy, the studies lead author tells EurekaAlert!

Ongoing research is taking place within the university’s Oral Microbiome Research Group to examine the link between oral microbes and a variety of cardiovascular and neurological conditions.

The study forms part of ongoing research taking place within the University’s Oral Microbiome Research Group, led by Dr Raul Bescos and Dr Zoe Brookes, to explore the links between the oral microbiome and a range of cardiovascular and neurological conditions.

Other clinical trials are underway investigating the links between gum health and Alzheimer’s disease and identifying patients under high cardiovascular risk in primary care dental clinics, as an altered balance of oral bacteria (microbiome) during gum disease can lead to high blood pressure and strokes.

These clinical studies are being carried out in primary care dental facilities run by Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, where the focus of the research is very much on improving clinical outcomes for patients.

Source:

Holly Roy, Raul Bescos, Ewen McColl, Umar Rehman, Elizabeth Cray, Louise A. Belfield, King-David Nweze, Kevin Tsang, William Singleton, Peter Whitfield, Zoe Brookes, Oral microbes and the formation of cerebral abscesses: A single-centre retrospective study, Journal of Dentistry, Volume 128, 2023, 104366, ISSN 0300712, Journal of Dentistry, DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104366 

The Swedish Society of Periodontology and Implantology is preparing to host its annual meeting for members coinciding with a two-day seminar event on 19. – 20.1.2023 in Gothenburg, Sweden. At the event, Finnish health tech company Koite Health Oy will also be present to demonstrate its Lumoral innovation that has already revolutionized Finland’s preventive dental care market.

At the event, current topics related to periodontology and implantology will be discussed to bring new insight to dentistry professionals in both specialist fields as well as to general dentists and dental hygienists.  

On the second day of the event, the Head of the Division of Reconstructive Dentistry at the Osteology Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, Daniel Thoma, will hold a presentation: “Why ridge preservation simplifies implant therapy and reduces patient morbidity.” Meanwhile, Professor and Doctor in dental surgical medicine, Sofia Aroca, is scheduled to hold her presentation “State of the art in soft tissue management around teeth.” 

The Swedish association is member of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of periodontal science and the importance of gum health for oral-health professionals and the public. The EFP is a federation of 37 national periodontal societies representing more than 16,000 periodontists, dentists, researchers, and oral-health professionals in Europe and around the world. 

Koite Health is a Finnish health tech company whose expert team consists of experienced doctors and technology experts. Founders Sakari Nikinmaa and Tommi Pätilä founded the company in September 2018 with the help of the Biodesign project and the commercialization project funded by Business Finland and Aalto University.   

Lumoral, developed by the company, is a teeth cleaning device based on dual light therapy that is used in addition to regular tooth brushing. The device is suitable for everyone, but especially beneficial for those with cavities or gingivitis. Lumoral has been scientifically developed, and its antibacterial effect is well established. Lumoral is a class II medical and CE approved device.