The University of Queensland research team is conducting a clinical trial of LED light therapy that combines red and infrared light in 15 dental clinics in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba, Queensland, which is expected to last until October this year.
Dr. Jessica Zachar of the School of Dentistry said the trial plans to recruit about 900 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of red LED light therapy devices in preventing and relieving pain from common dental procedures.
She pointed out that “about 30% of Australians avoid going to the dentist because of fear of injection needles. This technology may help patients who delay treatment due to fear.”
The photobiomodulation technology is realized by the Nuralyte™ device designed and developed by Australian startup Dentroid.
The non-invasive device effectively blocks the transmission of pain nerve signals by irradiating specific wavelengths of light to the soft tissues of the mouth. The treatment course is generally 15 to 20 minutes. It is worth mentioning that the nerves that transmit sensations such as touch will not be affected, so patients will not feel numbness or tingling.
Dr. Zachar added that previous clinical research at Griffith University showed that the device was more effective than traditional anaesthetic gel in reducing pain during dental injections.
The University of Queensland trial further integrates the technology into daily dental care, covering a wider range of surgical needs.
Currently, the trial covers four common dental procedures: painless treatment before injections, reducing sensitivity during tooth cleaning, needle-free treatment of small fillings, and accelerated recovery from local anesthesia. A related trial on pain relief after tooth extraction will also be conducted in the coming months.
“We hope that this technology will be popularized in all dental clinics by 2026 to help more patients achieve painless dental care,” said Laurence Walsh, honorary professor at the University of Queensland School of Dentistry.
