Ozone Therapy

Ozone kills germs, viruses, fungi and parasites all of which can be present in the oral microbial flora. In addition, ozone promotes healing.

BASIC SCIENTIFIC FACTS

• Ozone is an oxidant and is also referred to as an oxidizer. An oxidizer is a substance that accepts an electron from another substance and is then reduced. It acts as an electron acceptor. It also adds an oxygen atom to the compound being oxidized. In vivo it produces hydroperoxides, lipoperoxides, etc.
• Healthy cells have antioxidant enzymes in their cell membranes, such as: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, etc. There are also antioxidants such as: vitamin C, vitamin E, etc. present in the extracellular matrix fluids, plasma, etc. These antioxidants protect the healthy cells from being oxidized (burned up) by ozone.
• Pathogens such as: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Parasites have little or no antioxidant enzymes in their cell membranes. This makes them vulnerable to oxidants. An oxidant (ozone, chlorine, etc.) will destroy the cell membrane of the pathogen resulting in a disinfecting or sterilizing effect. Ozone leaves NO TOXIC BYPRODUCTS like chlorine compounds (trihalomethanes, etc.) leave in vivo or ex vivo. The final breakdown products of O3 are water and oxygen.

How does ozone produce therapeutic effects in the Dental Office?

Ozone is a powerful oxidant. Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and parasites have little or no antioxidant enzymes in their cell membranes. Without this protection ozone oxidizes (burns a hole through) the cell membrane causing it to rupture, resulting in cell death. Healthy cells have antioxidant enzymes in their cell membranes and are not harmed by therapeutic levels of ozone. Water treatment research in Europe has demonstrated that ONE MOLECULE OF OZONE has the oxidizing power of more than 3000 molecules of chlorine. This same research also showed that the ozone killed pathogenic organisms 3500 times faster with no toxic side effects and no toxic byproducts. Medical ozone studies have demonstrated benefits such as: improved wound healing, improving the immune system response, increased oxygen delivery to hypoxic tissues, etc. Velio Bocci, MD, in his book, “OZONE: A NEW MEDICAL DRUG”, states,”……it is clear that, among complementary approaches, ozone therapy has emerged as the one that is well explainable with classical biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological knowledge.”

Patient Treatment

In patient care, ozone is utilized in two forms: (1) ozonated water and (2) pure oxygen/ozone gas. Using these two agents in combination allows the Dentist to treat all oral infections using only oxygen and water! Regardless of the location or the type of infection ozone is able to treat almost any situation. The ozonated water is the perfect irrigation solution for periodontics and endodontics. For operative dentistry, periodontics and endodontics, ozone gas is used to reach and penetrate areas such as: carious dentin, dentinal tubules, accessory canals and periodontal pockets where no other antibiotic or disinfectant can reach.