Bringing red-light therapy into everyday dental care
Official title: Translating Red-Light Therapy into Restorative Dentistry: Clinical Efficacy and Safety
Funded at University of Florida · NIH-11591549 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to see if red-light therapy can safely help people heal after dental procedures when used with standard fillings and restorations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $491,553 |
| NIH project number | 1R56DE036252-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11591549 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults undergoing dental restorations who are candidates for endodontic-related procedures and are willing to receive red-light therapy during treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not respond to light-based therapies or have contraindications to light exposure may not experience benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to merge red-light therapy with routine dental restorations so patients experience faster, better healing right at the chair. It builds on existing evidence that red-light therapy supports tissue healing and explores how to integrate it into the restorative workflow without extra trips or chair time. The study will monitor safety and early clinical outcomes to determine feasibility for real-world dental care. Participants would receive standard dental treatment with an added light therapy component under careful supervision.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from quicker healing and fewer post-procedure complications after dental restorations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous reviews suggest red-light therapy can improve healing, but integrating it into routine dental care is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Florida
Gainesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oliveira, Dayane — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Oliveira, Dayane
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.