Lasers
treat gum disease with positive results
May 27,
2008 -- Photodisinfection -- which combines
low-intensity laser energy and microbiological stains to target and destroy
microbial pathogens -- continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in the
treatment of chronic adult periodontitis. According
to Ondine Biopharma, the
Vancouver-based company commercializing this technology under
the product name Periowave, results from the Canadian
Multi-Center Gum Disease Trial demonstrate that photodisinfection
compares favorably to traditional scaling and root planing
for the treatment of periodontal disease.
The
Canadian Multi-Center Trial was a prospective, randomized, examiner-blinded
study that included 121 patients and 4,500 defect treatment sites. Fifty-eight
patients were included in the Periowave treatment arm
and 63 patients were included in the control arm. The study was conducted at
the
"The
trial results confirm the positive in-field experiences of clinicians using the
Periowave system in
The
company intends to submit detailed results of this study to the FDA as part of
its ongoing discussions with the FDA regarding marketing approval for Periowave in the
The
original photodisinfection technology behind the Periowave was developed by Professor Michael Wilson and
colleagues at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, and
licensed to Ondine by UCL Business, University
College London.