Blue Light May Help Eliminate Periodontal Disease

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Jul 29, 2005

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory process that occurs in about 14% of the adult population in the United States. Gram-negative bacteria (ex. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Prevotella nigrescens) originating from dental plague cause inflammation of the gums eventually leading to periodontal pockets between the gums and the tooth roots. These pockets promote the growth of these bacteria that then damage the periodontal ligament and the bone that holds the tooth root to the jaw. Damage to the periodontal ligament and the tooth root can result in loss of the tooth. Periodontal disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults in the United States.

Tissue destruction due to periodontal disease can be significant. Patients with extensive periodontal disease can develop periodontal pockets around all of their teeth. Unfortunately this disease can take years before a person has any symptoms (loose tooth, deep pockets in the gums). Symptoms of this infection are not evident to many patients until significant irreversible damage has been done. The only ways to detect periodontal disease during these times is with a periodontal probe (a device that measures the depth of the periodontal pockets) or by intra-oral X-rays.

Once periodontal disease has been diagnosed the means of treatment can be quite unpleasant: descaling the teeth to remove the dental plaque on the teeth and under the gums and surgery. Mouthwashes are also used and oftentimes they have an effect on how food tastes. If ways could be found to less painfully treat periodontal disease and/or prevent this disease many people could be helped.

Recently, Nikolaos S. Soukos and his colleagues were able to demonstrate that a blue light-emitting device (BriteSmile model BS3000; BriteSmile, Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif.) used to brighten a person's teeth can also kill certain bacteria that are important in causing periodontal disease (N.S. Soukos et al. Phototargeting Oral Black-Pigmented Bacteria, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, April 2005, Vol. 49, No. 4, p. 1391-1396).

Not all bacterial in the biofilm that covers our teeth (dental plaque) cause disease. In many cases the bacteria in dental plague do not cause significant problems. However, if for some reason certain disease causing bacteria get in or

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