Biofluorescence-guided oral care for hospitalized geriatric patient with pneumonia: A case report

Park, Sol; Lee, Eun-Song; Jung, Hoi-In; Choi, Ji-won; Kim, Kwang-Joon; Kim, Chang-Oh; Kim, Beak-Il

doi:2026.64.9.312

J Korean Dent Assoc > Volume 64(9); 2026 > Article

Case Report

Journal of Korean Dental Association 2026;64(9):312-318.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22974/jkda.2026.64.9.003 Published online September 30, 2026.

Biofluorescence-guided oral care for hospitalized geriatric patient with pneumonia: A case report

Sol Park¹

¹Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, BK21 FOUR Project, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
²Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Beak-Il Kim, Tel: +82-2-2228-3070,
Email: address: drkbi@yuhs.ac

Received: 28 May 2026 • Revised: 26 August 2026 • Accepted: 7 September 2026

Abstract

Effective detection and removal of pathogenic oral biofilm in hospitalized geriatric patient are important for preventing aspiration pneumonia. This case report describes the clinical application of biofluorescence-based technology for immediate assessment of oral hygiene status and biofluorescence-guided oral hygiene care in a hospitalized geriatric patient with pneumonia. The thickness and extent of oral biofilm were difficult to determine by visual inspection; however, biofluorescence imaging revealed red biofluorescence across multiple regions of the oral cavity. Based on these findings, mechanical and chemical biofilm control was performed at the bedside by a dental professional. Following oral care, the red biofluorescence observed before intervention was no longer present, allowing objective evaluation of biofilm removal. These findings suggest that biofluorescence enables real-time visualization of pathogenic biofilm and objective monitoring of changes in oral hygiene, improving the objectivity of oral hygiene assessment and supporting quality improvement in oral care for hospitalized patients.

Key Words: Biofilms; Fluorescence; Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence; Frail Elderly; Dental Care