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 impairmentsfollowing 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.