Improving patient recovery following SRP

Maryam Shamuel, RDH.

Managing tissue healing post periodontal therapy is a key component of patient care. Following scaling and root planing (SRP) and other invasive procedures like dental surgery and implant placement, patients can experience discomfort, delayed healing, and inflammation. 

While there are many products that are marketed to reduce inflammation and bleeding, it’s important for us dental professionals to evaluate whether they provide meaningful clinical benefits while supporting a healthy oral microbiome.

As part of our continued commitment to elevate patient care, Catapult Education assembled a panel of evaluators, including dentists and dental hygienists to evaluate the StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit. 

The StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit.StellaLife Inc.

The StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit is a synergistic three-step oral care system formulated with plant-based ingredients designed to complement standard periodontal therapy. It promotes healing, reduces inflammation after dental procedures, promotes oral homeostasis, and reduces postoperative discomfort. This review summarizes the products, their impact on tissue response, recovery, ease of use, and patient satisfaction.

The evaluation process

As one of seven Catapult evaluators, I incorporated the recovery kit into my post-SRP protocol to assess its clinical performance. The evaluation team included both dentists and dental hygienists. Patient feedback was collected from 10 clinical cases, allowing us to assess both clinician observations and patient experiences throughout the healing process.

The StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit consists of three products:

• StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Rinse
• StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Spray
• StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Gel 

Patients were instructed to follow the StellaLife 3.3.3 protocol by beginning the regimen three days before treatment, continuing for 10 days after the procedure, and using all three products three times daily in the following sequence: rinse, spray, then gel. Follow-up evaluations were completed one month after treatment. All products in the kit were peppermint flavored.

Let’s look at each product and its criteria separately. 

StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Rinse

It is a plant-based oral rinse formulated with ingredients to disrupt biofilm, support healing, and reduce inflammation.

Patients were instructed to swish 10 ml of the rinse for one minute three times daily to cleanse and soothe oral tissues. The rinse received the most favorable feedback among patients. Patients found the rinse easy to incorporate into their daily routines and generally enjoyed the taste.

One aspect that interested me was the rinse's potential effect on the oral microbiome. According to a 2025 in vitro study, StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Rinse selectively inhibited periodontal pathogens like Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis while preserving beneficial commensal bacteria. Unlike broad-spectrum antiseptics, this selective antimicrobial activity may help maintain a healthier oral microbiome while reducing dysbiosis.

StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Spray

The sublingual spray provides convenient targeted application throughout the day. Patients were instructed to spray four sprays under their tongue so the product penetrates the blood vessels and provides systemic reduction of inflammation and analgesic effects. The sublingual spray was viewed positively because of its convenience and portability.

StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Gel

The gel is intended for direct application to the treatment site, providing prolonged contact to support healing and rapid analgesic relief. One patient described the gel as soothing on their gums. However, the gel required the most effort from patients and generated the most mixed feedback. Some patients reported difficulty keeping the gel in place long enough.

One patient commented, “The gel was the most difficult part. I didn’t feel like I was able to get it to stay.” Despite these challenges, overall patient satisfaction remained high. All patients rated their experience as either “good” or “excellent,” and no adverse reactions were reported. 

Clinical findings

Although evaluators acknowledged that SRP itself contributes to improved outcomes, many observed that patients using StellaLife appeared to experience enhanced healing and comfort. See Figures 1 and 2 for pre and postoperative photos.

Figure 1: Before implementing SRP with guided biofilm therapy (GBT), a laser, and StellaLife’s rinse and gel.

Figure 2: Post SRP with GBT, a laser, and StellaLife’s rinse and gel.

Eighty-three percent of the evaluators preferred the recovery kit over their current protocol, found it easy to apply, and expressed interest in incorporating it into their protocol.

One evaluator noted: “Clinically, tissues looked much healthier; this was supported by increased healing and decreased probing depths and BOP.”

Recovery outcomes were equally impressive. At the one-month follow-up, 100% of evaluators reported that the recovery kit effectively enhanced healing.

Implementation of the StellaLife system was straightforward for clinicians. None of the evaluators reported difficulty integrating the product into existing workflows. Most evaluators indicated they would continue using it, and 100% said they would recommend it to a colleague. 

Patients’ experience

Patients’ feedback was overwhelmingly positive. They reported less tenderness and faster recovery than anticipated. Comments included:

• “Patient reports no bleeding, tissue is not tender, and gums look pink posttreatment and using recovery kit.”
   
• “Shocked at how quickly the gums recovered after the deep cleaning. Thought recovery would be longer and more painful.”
   
• “Noticed better healing with it on board prior to the second half of the treatments.” 

The oral rinse was the easiest component for patients to adopt consistently, while the gel occasionally required additional coaching. Despite this, overall compliance was favorable, and patients generally felt the system contributed positively to their recovery experience.

Editor's note: In the video below, Shamuel shares her strategy for how she secures patient approval for SRP and how she explains the treatment recommendations for StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit.

Conclusion

After incorporating the Recovery Kit into the post-SRP protocol, my colleagues and I found it to be a valuable adjunct to periodontal therapy. The system was easy to implement, well accepted by patients, and associated with healthy tissue appearance and positive patient feedback throughout the healing period.

While the product is not intended to replace established periodontal therapy, it serves as a valuable adjunct that supports healing and enhances patient recovery.

Based on the collective findings from this evaluation, StellaLife VEGA Oral Care Recovery Kit earned a Catapult Vote of Confidence and represents a promising addition to posttreatment periodontal care. 

The dentist’s perspective

Dr. Ben Alvarez, a Catapult reviewer, offered the following clinician perspective.

For me, the value of StellaLife after SRP is not that it replaces good periodontal treatment. Thorough instrumentation, removal of biofilm and calculus, and improved home care are still what drive the result. Where I see StellaLife fitting in is during the healing period afterward. It gives patients another way to care for the tissues at home and may help make recovery more comfortable and easier to manage.

Dr. Ben Alvarez.

What stood out most during the evaluation was how the tissues looked at follow-up. We saw less inflammation and bleeding and, in some cases, improvements in probing depths and bleeding on probing. 

I cannot attribute all of those changes to StellaLife, because the patients also received appropriate periodontal treatment and home care instruction. Even so, the tissue response seemed better than expected in several cases, and patients also reported that their recovery felt faster and more comfortable. That made StellaLife feel like a meaningful part of the overall protocol rather than just one more product added to the postoperative instructions.

We also use StellaLife outside of SRP. There are times when we apply the gel directly to an irritated or traumatized area after an appointment or recommend it for localized concerns such as aphthous ulcers, cold sores, denture irritation, or other minor soft-tissue irritation.

In those situations, we are usually looking for something simple that may help soothe the area and support healing. The rinse, gel, and spray can also be used individually, which makes the products more practical than viewing them only as part of a complete three-step system. Overall, I see StellaLife as another useful tool we can reach for when the tissues need a little extra support following treatment.

Maryam Shamuel, RDH, is a self-driven professional with 18 years of experience in the dental industry and a passion for education, disease prevention, and advancing patient care. She has more than a decade of experience as a clinical dental hygienist. Shamuel is a guided biofilm therapy trainer with EMS, a RiseWell educator, a clinical instructor at the College of Southern Nevada, and a writer and product evaluator with Catapult Education. She can be reached at [email protected]. 

Dr. Ben Alvarez graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City College of Dentistry in 2014. Dr. Alvarez is a recognized fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. He is actively involved with the Missouri Academy of General Dentistry and has served as a past board member as the continuing education/PACE coordinator. Dr. Alvarez enjoys lecturing on CAD/CAM, patient diagnosis, and cone-beam computed tomography. He is the owner of Artizan Dental Care in Marshfield, MO. 

The comments and observations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of DrBicuspid.com, nor should they be construed as an endorsement or admonishment of any particular idea, vendor, or organization.