Fiona McMichen BDS, MSc, MS
Private Practice
Elstead, United Kingdom
1:50 p.m.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
International Academy of Endodontics Annual Meeting
The Midland Manchester
Manchester, United Kingdom
“An introduction to photobiomodulation"
An introduction to photobiomodulation (PBM). What is it? How does it work? How may it be useful to you in your clinical practice or in other fields of medicine and dentistry to help in a non-invasive way to reduce inflammation, and promote wound healing and tissue repair including neurogenesis.
Major Topics:
- How light affects tissues and what is PBM.
- Cellular mechanisms of how PBM works.
- Medical applications of PBM.generally (Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, Diabetic ulcers, Dry Macular degeneration, Pain reduction etc.)
- Dental applications of PBM.: eg: head and neck pain/symptoms from “TMJ” type problems, reduction in muscular inflammation and trigger points, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, herpes simplex, oral ulceration, post-surgery recovery, reduction of gag reflex.
- Technology, safety and dosage considerations including contraindications.
Learning Objectives:
- An introduction into how light in the red and near infra red spectrum affects tissues in the body. This should allow an understanding of chromophores and how different wavelengths of light are absorbed by different chromophores.
- An introduction into photobiomodulation and some of the most recent theories of the cellular processes that are involved in PBM and an insight into how different wavelengths or light sources (laser or LED) are able to produce wound healing, reduced inflammation and tissue repair.
- How photobiomodulation may be applied in the fields of medicine and dentistry. Minimising the effects of oral mucositis in cancer treatments, uses for treatment of inflammation in head and neck pain and how this may be relevant to your practice.
Affiliations:
Member of the BES, Associate member of the ESE, Associate member of the AAE, founder member of the LESG. Part-time lecturer at the Eastman UCL (endodontics) 1999-2018.
Laser in dentistry Master at UCSC Rome (2022-23) Master (not university) at the Laser and Health Academy run by Fotona in Slovenia (2023-24) but I am not affiliated with them. I have no commercial interests of any professional affiliations. I am not linked with a University any longer.
About the Presenter:
I studied dentistry at UCL in London and worked in general practice before moving to Berlin (87-8), where I worked for a year as a general dentist with the US Army. On returning to the UK I continued in general practice for 5 years and then undertook a one-year part-time restorative course at the Eastman UCL. I then was accepted onto the MSc programme at the Eastman for endodontics (graduated 1996) I subsequently started an endodontic referral practice at a general dental clinic in Farnham, Surrey. In 1998 I was part of a small group of UK endodontists looking for ongoing endodontic education at a high level in the UK and we established the Langham Endodontic Study Group which continues to run successfully. I taught endodontics part-time from 1999-2018 at the Eastman on their Restorative and Endodontic certificate courses. My husband and I opened our clinic in Elstead, Surrey in 2011 where we continue to work. In 2022 I undertook a Master's degree in Laser Dentistry with Prof. Olivi in Rome and added to this laser journey with the LA & HA Master with Fotona which I completed in 24. I am now planning to spend much more time with my family.
