The following article was written by administrative assistant Alianna Arias, in completion of requirements to become an IABDM Certified Biological Staff Member. Congratulations, Alianna!

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Ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms (O3). If you think about it, it is like a new form of oxygen!​​

There are a few ways to apply the ozone to the oral cavity. ​​The first uses ozonated water; the next is ozonated olive oil; and the last is ozone gas.​ Ozone therapy helps reduce the presence of oral bacteria.​​ By doing ozone treatments, you also slow down the process of tooth decay, giving you and your dentist more time to try to save the tooth. ​​Ozonated water can be used in the office and ozonated oil at home; by using a combination, you may have better results.​​

Ozone is so powerful that it can kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi, yet it is safe to use on the human body.​

There are some side effects that may come to you after the treatment such as burning eyes, coughing, nausea, lightheadedness, and a possible headache.​​ All of these resolve shortly after.​ ​The side effects are rare, but they are something to keep in mind.​

In the office we use ozone for most of our procedures, especially for SRP (scaling and root planing).​ ​We include ozone in all of our SRP visits because we find it beneficial for the patient.​ ​We also use ozone to clean the chairs, applying it with a spray bottle.​ ​This is a fast and efficient way to kill any bacteria.​ ​

Some other benefits of ozone: 1) no discomfort during treatment, 2) no drills, 3) excellent safety, 4) effectiveness, 5) the tooth can become strong, and 6) it minimizes the patient’s anxiety.​

I believe that getting ozone before, during, and after an oral surgery would increase your chances of a faster and safe recovery.​​ Studies show that ozone helps the wounds heal faster.​ Ozone also helps oxygen reach the tissues.

Ozone enhances wound healing, improves several properties of erythrocytes and facilitates oxygen release in the tissues.​ ​This causes ​vasodilatation and hence improves the blood supply to the ischemic zones.​​ Therefore, it can be successfully used in cases of ​wound healing impairments​​following surgical interventions like tooth extractions or implant dentistry.​​ (1)

Ozone’s unique properties make it an ideal treatment choice for patients.​

In conclusion, ozone is a safe and cost effective treatment to be considered by any patient who is looking to do things in a natural way rather than doing a big treatment that may not be good for them in the long run.​ ​Ozone is an alternative for those dental treatments.
 

References

1. Tiwari S, Avinash A, Katiyar S, Iyer AA, Jain S. Dental applications of ozone therapy: A review of literature. The Saudi Journal for Dental Research. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352003516300260. Published July 5, 2016. Accessed January 14, 2021.

2. Asokan S, Emmadi P, Chamundeswari R.. Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study. Indian journal of dental research : official publication of Indian Society for Dental Research. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19336860/. Accessed January 14, 2021.