Repeated irradiation by light-emitting diodes may impede the spontaneous progression of experimental periodontitis: a preclinical study

PURPOSE: We investigated whether repeated irradiation with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at a combination of 470 nm and 525 nm could suppress the progression of experimental periodontitis. METHODS: A experimental periodontitis model was established in the second, third, and fourth premolars of the mandible in beagle dogs for 2 months. The spontaneous progression of periodontitis was monitored under the specified treatment regimen for 3 months. During this period, the animals were subjected to treatments of either plaque control only (control) or plaque control with LED application (test) at 2-week intervals. The clinical parameters included the probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), and the clinical attachment level (CAL). Histomorphometric analysis was performed using measurements of the length of the junctional epithelium, connective tissue (CT) zone, and total soft tissue (ST). RESULTS: There were significant differences in PPD between the control and test groups at baseline and 12 weeks. When the change in PPD was stratified based on time intervals, it was shown that greater differences occurred in the test group, with statistical significance for baseline to 12 weeks, 6 to 12 weeks, and baseline to 6 weeks. There was no significant difference in GR between the control and test groups at any time points. Likewise, no statistically significant differences were found in GR at any time intervals. CAL showed a statistically significant difference between the control and test groups at baseline only, although significant differences in CAL were observed between baseline and 12 weeks and between 6 and 12 weeks. The proportion of CT to ST was smaller for both buccal and lingual areas in the control group than in the test group. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated LED irradiation with a combination of 470-nm and 525-nm wavelengths may help suppress the progression of periodontal disease.