This thesis study will investigate whether the regular use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy can alleviate dry mouth symptoms in patients with Sjogren's syndrome and thus be a potential addition to regular oral self-care habits that promote and maintain oral health.
Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease that has a holistic impact on a patient's health. The most significant consequence in terms of oral health is the destruction of the salivary glands by the autoimmune reaction, leading to salivary gland failure and consequently dry mouth with reduced saliva secretion. Decreased saliva secretion predisposes to a number of oral health problems, and patients with Sjogren's syndrome are therefore at risk for conditions such as caries and periodontitis, an inflammatory periodontal disease. Regular visits to an oral health professional and good oral hygiene and eating habits and habits promote and maintain oral health. Treatments for dry mouth symptoms associated with Sjogren's syndrome aim to relieve oral symptoms by preserving, replacing and stimulating salivary gland secretion in ways that relieve local inflammation. Regular home-use of specially designed antibacterial photodynamic therapy device in addition to standard oral self-care has been shown to destroy oral disease-causing bacteria in a way that bacteria cannot develop resistance to. In addition, the treatment method also stimulates saliva production through photobiomodulation. The aim of our study is therefore to investigate, by means of a clinical measurement, whether the regular use of the antibacterial photodynamic therapy device as part of oral self-care can have an effect on the amount of stimulated saliva secretion of a patient with Sjogren's syndrome during the ten-week study period. The aim is also to describe, by means of a questionnaire measuring the subjective symptoms of dry mouth, whether the treatment has an effect on the frequency of the typical symptoms of xerostomia.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
Lumoral® Treatment devices are handed over to study participants on the first visit. The treatment is performed first at the clinic under supervision by the researchers. Treatment is then repeated at home twice a week for 12 weeks. The treatment is started by dissolving one 7 mg Lumorinse® oral tablet in 30 ml amount of pure water. The tablet dissolves in water in one minute, after which the mouthwash is poured into the mouth and swished for 60 seconds. The indocyanine green in the mouthwash adheres to the plaque surface in the teeth and gum line. The mouthwash is then spat out and the mouthpiece of the Lumoral® Treatment device is inserted into the mouth and a light is activated. After 10 minutes, the device turns itself off, after which the mouthpiece is removed from the mouth. Normal oral hygiene routines will then be performed.
Metropolia University of applied sciences
Helsinki, Finland
Stimulated saliva
Measurement of stimulated saliva is performed at the baseline and study end visits. On both visits, the stimulated saliva is measured twice: before and after the investigational device use. Stimulated saliva production is measured in a frontal, sitting, or semi-sitting position by having the patient chew a piece of paraffin, for example, for one minute. During this time, the saliva is swallowed. The patient then continues to chew for five minutes, during which time the saliva accumulated in the mouth is drained into a measuring cup. The volume of stimulated saliva is measured in milliliters. The measurements will be analyzed using quantitive methods.
Time frame: 3 months
Subjective dry mouth (xerostomia) follow-up
Xerostomia questionnaire. Study subjects are asked to fill in a questionnaire at the study end visit to determine the frequency of xerostomia symptoms during the 3-month study period. The questionnaire is designed to ask a set of pre-set questions, which are answered on a 5-point Likert scale (1, not at all true - 5, completely true).
Time frame: 3 months
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