The use of ozone therapy is becoming more popular with biological practitioners, although the general population is still largely unaware of the benefits that can be gained through it. Once you understand what ozone therapy is and how it can benefit overall health and wellness, you will see the advantages to using ozone therapy for all your dental treatments.
Ozone is a gas that contains three atoms of oxygen (O3). Ozone is a naturally occurring substance in the atmosphere of the earth, and it can also be produced as a man-made gas. Ozone can be found in both the upper and lower atmospheres of the earth, and it can have a higher concentration depending on geographical location and weather patterns.
What is Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy is known as an alternative treatment, and the goal with the therapy is to increase the oxygen levels within the body. Because of the extra molecule of oxygen, it is a highly reactive oxidant. When ozone is introduced in the body, the increased oxygen levels are believed to help with many different health conditions. Our cells have protection from the reaction of extra oxygen with our antioxidants. Bugs like viruses, bacteria and others lack this ability to protect themselves against this oxygen. This causes an almost immediate death of these pathogens. Ozone is a disinfectant largely superior to chlorine and acts 3 000 times faster.
There are several ways the ozone may be introduced to the body. Usually, the ozone is combined with liquids or gases, and it enters the body through the veins (intravenously), under the skin (subcutaneously), into a muscle (intramuscular), through injections, or through the ear canal. Another method is autohemotherapy, which is a treatment that involves drawing blood from the patient, exposing the drawn blood to ozone, and then injecting the blood back into the patient again. Water and oils can also be ozonated to treat wounds.
There are minimal side effects to ozone therapy. A study completed in 1980 interviewed 644 professionals that used ozone therapy, and the results showed that out of 5 million ozone therapy treatments that were administered, only 40 people experienced side effects from the treatment.
Uses of Ozone in Dentistry
At Millennium Dental Associates, we use this natural disinfectant and detoxifier to help in a variety of ways. Here are some of the main uses of ozone:
- Treat Periodontal (gum) disease
- Disinfect cavity preparations prior to filling a tooth or seating a crown
- Pain Management
- Nursing sick teeth that have had root canal therapy
- Treating dental implant gum infections.
- Trigger point therapy
- Prolozone therapy of TMJ’s
- Irrigation of surgical sites with ozonated sterile saline (extractions, cavitation surgery, etc.)
- Disinfection of denture prosthetics of fungus, yeast, bacteria and viruses.
- Treatment of herpetic lesions (cold sores/fever blisters)
- Desensitizing sensitive teeth
History of Ozone
The first-time ozone therapy was used in a medical setting was in 1856, and at the time it was used as a disinfectant process for surgical instruments and operating rooms. Over time, ozone was used to sterilize drinking water, because it could help to remove viruses and bacteria from the water so that it was safe to consume. It would also prevent having the downsides of chlorine, which was the other main product used to disinfect water. During World War I, ozone was used to treat wounds because of its disinfecting properties. Doctors now use ozone therapy for a number of health concerns, including arthritis, heart disease, AIDs, cancer, Lyme disease, and Alzheimer’s.
