Ozone in Dentistry

Ozone is simply nature’s most effective killer of bacteria, viruses, fungi and even parasites; nothing to date has been found that is resistant to Ozones’ oxidizing effects. Ozone is 3,000 times more powerful than Chlorine in killing germs and any unreacted ozone simply breaks down into oxygen. In comparison, Chlorine reacts with organic materials to form chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc, generally known as trihalomethanes.

What is a cavity or caries (as dentists call them)?

It is simply opportunistic bacteria, viruses, prions, fungi, even parasites living together in what is called biofilm. This biofilm causes an infection or "decay" that breaks down the enamel and integrity of a tooth. If this "infection" or biofilm is not either "drilled and filled" or destroyed it will ultimately consume the tooth and could infect surrounding tissues.

So how can Ozone revolutionize dentistry...

Current options to manage caries/cavities:

• watch & wait – until when?
• how to diagnose successfully? (Diagnodent laser)
• prevention & oral hygiene – is it enough?
• drill and fill (amputation) - there is a better way!

Patients often ask: "Do you have to drill my tooth?"

This question is on every patients mind when you discover decay and explain that you need to treat it, not watch it. Prior to Dental Ozone – it was (and is still) believed that drilling out the defective tooth structure and replacing it with a filling material (gold, silver, composite, glass ionomer or porcelain were the typical choices)is the only choice for effective treatment of caries.

This is often a painful treatment...and not always effective. And WHO likes Painful Dental Procedures?! NO Drilling = NO Pain. Many studies have shown: Residual caries was present in over 60% of the teeth that were RECENTLY restored! Active Bacteria Remain.

21st Century Treatment modality: Dental Ozone. It allows painless elimination of Decay causing bacteria and remineralization. NOW offer your patient a Safe, reliable, Conservative, Minimally Invasive option!

Let’s look at what Ozone can do, holistically…

Accomplishes / Promotes the 4 – Primary Needs in Dentistry. It is called Bio-restructuring, which is…

1. REMINERALIZATION (tooth)
2. STERILIZATION (tooth, gingival tissues, sores, irritations, extraction, implant or surgical sites)
3. RE-EPITHELIALZATION (gingival tissues, surgical, implant or extraction sites)
4. DESENSITIZATION (tooth, gingival tissues)

Typical Procedures: General

• Maintain Children’s Primary teeth health
• Decay reversal
• Under sealants
• Under Indirect Restorations
• Under direct Restorations
• Implant Placement
• Implant restoration
• Under Build ups
• Easily Treat Root Surface Sensitivity
• Assists in Teeth Whitening
• Cold sores /Canker Sores healing
• Traumatic Injury Sites

Use your imagination! The uses are limitless

Typical Procedures: Specific

• Remove less tooth structure when restoring
• Disinfect deep fissures prior to sealant placement
• Desensitize Teeth
• Disinfect Root Canals
• Disinfect Periodontal Pockets
• Disinfect Extraction sites
• Disinfect Implant placement sites
• Create ozonated water for Irrigation., for breath treatment
• Whiten Teeth
• Disinfect cold sores

More Benefits of Ozone in Dentistry

Do you need to do anything else in Dentistry...if so...Dental Ozone will assist you.

NOW offer your patient a Safe, reliable, Conservative, Minimally Invasive option. Order a Lime Technologies CMU3 dental ozone unit today!

FAQs

What is Ozone?

Ozone (chemical symbol O3) is a naturally occurring compound. Ozone is nature's strongest sanitizer and air purifier. Oxygen molecules (O2) are converted to ozone (O3) by either a high-voltage electrical charge (such as from lightning), or by ultraviolet light (such as from the sun rays) that splits the oxygen molecules into individual single oxygen molecules (O1) which then recombine to form the ozone molecule (O3). Ozone is produced in human cells as part of the body’s defense mechanism (Wentworth P, et al, 2002, Babior BM, et al, 2003, Peng KJ, et al, 2006).

How does Ozone purify the air?

One radical oxygen atom (O1) detaches itself from the ozone molecule (O3), and reacts when it comes in to contact with a contaminant (dust-, mite fesus particles, spores, pathogens, bacteria, viruses, microbial- and/or general pollutants). Ozone is highly reactive, so it never fails to initiate this reaction. There is scientific research to show that ozone reduces air-borne infections. (Jakab GJ, Hmieleski RR , 1988, Wolcott JA, et al, 1982).

As the second most powerful oxidant in existence known to man, this single radical atom "oxidises" the contaminants it reacts with. This means it destroys the contaminants, by changing its physical properties (molecular structure); in most cases, to carbon dioxide and hydrogen. As a result, the contaminant is no longer toxic or able to reproduce itself if of bacterial, fungal or viral in nature; the particle becomes completely harmless. Any residual ozone reverts back to pure oxygen, making it environmentally friendly.

Is Ozone safe?

Ozone sterilization has become the treatment of choice for drinking water supplies worldwide, is used in the production of canned/bottled drinks, and has been used in waste water management since the late 19th Century (Dickermann et al 1954). Ozone is more efficient than chlorine for water purification. Giardia and Cryptosporidium cysts are susceptible to ozone but are unaffected by normal levels of chlorine in water. Ozone is 25 times more effective than hypochlorous acid, 2,500 times more effective than hypochlorite, and 5,000 times more than chloramines. (Results measured by the time needed to kill 99.99% of all micro-organisms). Any unreacted ozone simply breaks down into oxygen. In comparison, chlorine reacts with organic materials to form chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc, generally known as trihalomethanes.

Trihalomethanes have been implicated as the carcinogens found in the development of kidney, bladder and colon cancer. Ozone is non carcinogenic. In the USA, the FDA and EPA certify ozone as able to destroy 99.9992% of all pathogenic germs in the purification of water whilst destroying 99.9992% of pollutants in the water simultaneously.

Ozone has been used to clean public air supplies since the early 1900’s; for example, the London Underground Railway system was ozone-treated to prevent air-born infections as far back as 1912.

European research has shown that ozone can eliminate biofilms in water pipes (Abu-Naba'A L et al, 2002). Struchkov A.A et al (Struchkov A.A et al 2004.) described infection control with the use of ozone gas in a hospital burn unit. Burn trauma victims are susceptible to infection. By treating the whole treatment area, the burn trauma unit was effectively sterilized and no infection was seen with multiple-resistant micro-organisms.

Sterilization with ozone gas is effective against all bacteria, viruses and fungi; prions show no resistance to ozone and the first commercial ozone sterilizer has been in operation for the last 10 years in Canada. Bacteria are microscopically small, single-cell creatures having a primitive structure. The bacteria body is sealed by a relatively solid-cell membrane. Their vital processes are controlled by a complex enzymatic system. Ozone oxidizes the outer membrane, leading to immediate rupture and death of the cell. There is no known resistance to ozone due to the immediate and high kill-rate.

Viruses are small, independent particles, built of crystals and macromolecules, unlike bacteria; they multiply only within a host cell. Ozone destroys viruses by diffusing through the protein coat into the nucleic acid core, resulting in damage of the viral RNA. At higher concentrations, ozone destroys the capsid or exterior protein shell by oxidation within milliseconds of contact.

In virions which lack a lipid envelope but whose nucleic acids are surrounded by a protein capsid such as those of the minovirus family, ozone may diffuse through the protein coating and deform or cleave the genome core. Viruses, unlike cells, lack enzymes designed to repair injured DNA or RNA, and are incapacitated by this process. (Wells K, et al, 1991).

The United States Refrigeration Service Engineers Society has reported that electric-arc welders exposed to ozone levels of 0.2 to 0.3 ppm for a decade showed no adverse effects. According to the 1961 Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, "During the 80-year history of the large scale usage of ozone, there has never been a human death attributed to it." To this day, there has still never been a single human death or incident of harm attributed to ozone. This despite the fact that ozone was widely used in hospitals during the first half of the 20th century, and is still widely used in European hospitals. In addition, millions of ozone air purification systems are in use worldwide, both commercially and residentially. Ozone has not been found to be harmful to human lungs until administering concentrations as high as 0.1 – 0.2 ppm. However, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to adjust most ozone air purifiers to produce anywhere close to this amount of ozone. At proper levels (0.02 ppm to 0.05 ppm), ozone will have a pleasant and clean smell to it, reminiscent of the natural smell after a lightening storm.

In a Cuban study by Mapolön Y, Recio E, et al. (Mapolön Y, Recio E, et al. 2004) 168,310 subjects (children and adults) treated with ozone from July 1992 till December 2003 were followed. The clinical results were excellent, with no side effects. A great deal is known about the tissue reparative mechanisms and immune system response by humans when exposed to ozone gas.

To date, not a single patient has been harmed with the use of ozone in health care, and not a single person has ever died from ozone. Yet ozone is perceived to be a dangerous gas; let’s put this into a scientific context. In 1978 an FDA Report showed that 1.5 million people were hospitalised by pharmaceutical reactions, and there were 140,000 deaths (9.3%) from prescription drug usage.

In stark contrast, a 1980 German Medical Society Report for Ozone Therapy cited 5.6 million ozone treatments carried out for that year. Of the 5.6 million ozone treatments, there were just 40 reported cases of side effects (0.000007%). Ozone remains the safest and the most effective pharmaceutical treatment.

Why install Ozone equipment?

Since ozone dissipates quickly (within 15 minutes at room temperature), ozone equipment must be used on-site to be effective. The main medium for transfer of dust-, mite fesus particles, pathogens, bacteria, viruses, microbial- and/or pollutants is air. There is no known more effective solution for sterilizing and/or sanitization of air in hospitals than ozone.

Patients are carriers of bacteria and can cross-infect healthy individuals. Bacteria from nasal and mouth cavities when coughing, talking or even breathing float around, stuck to microscopic drops of saliva. Bacteria can also spread from open and bandaged wounds. These airborne bacteria come to rest on patient’s hands, personnel and furniture for example, acting as a starting point for further infections. Ozone is a known disinfectant that can prevent potential cross infections and/or cross contamination. Ozone is also the ideal medium to keep all surface areas aseptic due to its known sterilization properties.

A recent paper from Taiwan, (Chih-Shan L and Yu-Chun W, 2006) examined the surface germicidal effects of ozone for microorganisms. It concluded that low ozone concentrations and time exposures eliminated all bacteria and fungal infections. We live in an era of bacterial strains that are resistant to most antibiotics, of a population that has a decreased ability to fight infection and who are compromised by traumatic injury, pre-existing infection and immuno-suppressants. Any system capable of preventing air-born cross infection should be a high priority for public areas, especially in areas where susceptible members of the community gather for heath care. Health authorities wanting to reduce their potential for legal action where inadequate cross infection control leads to hazardous conditions for patients, visitors and workers can use ozone technologies to control and minimize this risk.

Apart from its disinfecting and sterilization properties, ozone has a strong deodorizing effect. As ozone is released, it reacts with all organic compounds by breaking them down. Odour is generally caused by the decay of organic compounds. Ozone removes odour by oxidizing this organic material and removing the source that actually creates the odour. Ozone destroys bacteria, mould, mildew and even oxidizes odorous gasses like smoke and volatile sulphur compounds (Holmes J, 2002). It is important to note that ozone’s deodorizing action is not simply a masking effect of unpleasant odours like volatile sulphurs; it is a true chemical destruction of the compounds that create the odours in the first instance.

How much Ozone is required to be effective?

In studies conducted at the Academy of Medical Sciences in Russia, (Malysheva AG, et al, 2006) 0.005 ppm to 0.02 ppm of ozone added to normal indoor air (0 ppm) increased animals' resistance to infections, toxic substances, and to oxygen deprivation. A general increase in the immune "biological potential" and the vital capacity of the lungs was reported.

The same study showed concentrations of ozone of less than .01 ppm in an air-conditioned office buildings, lead to elevated blood oxygenation. And a decrease in complaints of ear nose and throat infections (3.8 times fewer complaints). The study concluded "Atmospheric ozone has a positive effect on animals and people. It is important to note its positive effect on the respiratory system, blood composition, arterial pressure, immune system, general feeling of well-being and mental and physical work capability. The ozone-ion complex is a necessary component of fresh air that gives it a curative effect."

Russian scientists performed a study to see how effective ozone was at improving indoor air quality in schools (Gubernskii IuD et al, 1978.). Respiratory-related illnesses were drastically improved after the ozone systems were installed. The ozone concentration produced by the system was 0.015 ppm. This study has been repeated in the USA (Jakab GJ & Hmieleski RR, 1988.) Laboratory tests have shown that ozone effectively destroys bacteria at 0.04 ppm.

Many publications have published studies showing the effectiveness of lower concentrations of ozone (0.01 to 0.03 ppm) at removing odours and pollutants. Some of these include the United States Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (USRSES), U.S. Air Force technical publications, and Manufacturing Chemist.

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Other Uses

General Ozone Application

Hotel & Home Use

• removal of unwanted odors – fish, cigarette smoke
• Room sterilisation
• Water sterilisation – ice manufacture, showers (legionnaires).
  Bottled water – Aquafina, & Ice Mountain , etc.
• Hand washing / cross infection control
• Food preparation
• Wound / pain control
• Extend life of food / food products

Public Buildings

• Sterilise air-conditioned air
• Sterilise rooms and spaces
• Reduction in air-born infections – SARS, TB, Influenza
• Water supplies – eg legionella

Medical Ozone Application

• Instrument sterilisation – Toronto 2003
• Bacterial, viral and fungal elimination & control
• Surface application
• Autohemotherapy:
  major 200ml+ ozone-treated, re-infused blood
  minor 10-15ml ozone-treated, re-infused blood
• Peritoneal and rectal sufflication
• trauma & wound management
• pain control
• tissue regeneration and healing
• dermatology
• tissue regeneration and healing
• dermatology
• viral infections
• bacterial infections – e.g. MRSA infections
• fungal infections

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History

Ozone Therapy has had a long history of research and clinical applications with humans.

18th & 19th Century

[1785]  Van Marum noticed that air near his electrostatic machine acquired a characteristic odour when electric sparks were passed.

[1801]  Cruickshank observed the same odour at the anode during electrolysis of water.

[1840]  Shonbein named the substance, which gave off this odour, ozone, from the Greek word "ozein" – to smell. The vast majority of historical references to ozone indicate Shonbein was the first scientist to name ozone, although there are some references to Christian Fernandez, a German scientist, as the first to describe and name ozone.

[1896]  Electrical genius Nikola Tesla patented his first ozone generator, and sold it for medical use. 1900, he formed the Tesla Ozone Company.

Ozone predates the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, its subsequent revision, and the FDA. As a result, ozone’s medical/dental use is grandfathered in the US.

20th Century Developments

[1911]  London Underground ventilated with ozonated air. During World War 1, ozone was used to treat gunshot and trauma wounds, trench foot gangrene and the effects of poison gas.

[1915]  Dr. Albert Wolff of Berlin also used ozone for treating colon cancer, cervical cancer and decubitis ulcers in 1915.

[1920]  Dr. Charles Neiswanger MD, the President of the Chicago Hospital -College of Medicine, published "Electro Therapeutical Practice." Chapter 32 was entitled "Ozone as a Therapeutic Agent."

[1932]  Dr E Fisch first dental use of ozone for infection Tx.

[1950’s]  ozone used to treat cancers.

[1977]  Dr. Renate Viebahn - technical overview of ozone action in the body.

[1979]  Dr. George Freibott began treating his first AIDS patient with ozone.

[1990’s]  Reynolds & HIV.

[2000’s]  Dr Edward Lynch and Dr Julian Holmes collaborate on "Ozone: The Revolution in Dentistry." Extensive research continued with publication of Dr Rilling’s and Dr Viebahn’s text "The use of Ozone in Medicine." This text was a standard until 2002, when Dr Bocci published "Oxygen/Ozone Therapy." After more than 130 years of use, Ozone Therapy is currently the standard of care in over 20 countries worldwide.

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Timeline

Coming Soon.

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