Dentistry is always advancing and utilising the latest proven techniques, technology and equipment is integral to achieving optimal patient outcomes. Ozone dentistry or Ozone therapy has been shown to be a very beneficial advance and supplementary adjunct for therapeutic modalities. This approach to dental treatment helps to facilitate faster treatment and healing times, reduces the microbial count and risk of infection and is completely painless.
The team at Sydney Dental Aesthetics and Implants (SDAI) in Martin Place Sydney CBD utilise Minimally Invasive Dentistry, in fact it is our Standard of Care in all disciplines of dentistry, most importantly in preventive and operative dentistry. The implementation of ozone therapy into our practice has greatly facilitated this as we are routinely arresting and reversing the process of dental caries (tooth decay) without invasive or destructive treatment.
Leading dentist, lecturer and mentor to many dentists locally and abroad, Dr Dean Licenblat shares further insights on the area of Ozone dentistry.
Dr Dean Licenblat
BDent (Syd), MSc (Oral Implantology) (Goethe), BSc (Biol. Sci.) (Hons), FPFA, DICOI, IPS Master, Clinical Instructor Goethe University, LVIF
Q + A with Dr Dean Licenblat
Q: What exactly is ozone dentistry?
A: Ozone dentistry is the use of ozone as an additional component to dental procedures. It is essentially a powerful disinfectant.
Q: How does it work?
A: Ozone has a high oxidation potential and is 1.5 times greater than chloride when used as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. It also has the capacity to stimulate blood circulation, the clotting cascade and the immune response. Such features justify the current interest in its application in medicine and dentistry and have been indicated for the treatment of over 260 different pathogens.
Ozone has numerous vehicles in dentistry namely Ozone Gas, Ozone water & Ozone infused olive oil.
Q: When do you use it for patients?
A: Ozone can be used for the treatment of many common dental ailments, it can be used as a mouthwash prior to surgery or dental treatment for the purpose of reducing the oral pathogens and certain microflora, as a replacement for common antibiotic ointments and as a cleaning agent for both tooth surfaces as well as the clinic surfaces ie benchtops and sterilisation areas.
Q: What are the benefits of ozone dentistry?
A: The benefits are natural disinfection with the absence of harsh chemicals
Q: Can ozone dentistry be used as a stand- alone dental option?
A: Generally not, it is an adjunct or additional disinfection step that can be implemented in conjunction with conventional modern dental techniques ie you would still require conventional root canal therapy when the nerve etc had died the addition of ozone ensures that the canal/s are as sterile as humanly achievable & one would still need conventional deep gum cleaning prior to the application of ozone in cases of periodontal disease (the ozone disinfects the gum pockets and stimulates healing)
Q: Is it safe and does it comply with infection control standards?
A: Absolutely yes, it is a product that is sold freely in Australia with complete TGA approval.
It is completely non-toxic in the doses and applications that we use in our field.
APPLICATIONS IN DENTISTRY
In dentistry, ozone can play an integral role in various dental treatment modalities. Ozone therapy presents great advantages when used as a support for conventional treatments including:
- Endodontics – root canal therapy
- Periodontics – gum and jawbone applications
- Surgical procedures
- Restorative dentistry & Prosthodontics
- Soft Tissue lesions including cold sores
Ozone dentistry is part of our holistic wellness dentistry regime offering which is used to supplement our patients dental treatment. Ozone therapy is not however a stand- alone solution.
Find out more about ozone therapy and how it supports dental treatment
https://www.sdai.com.au/portfolio/ozone-oxygen-healing/
Want to find out more? Please discuss with our friendly team at Sydney Dental Aesthetics & Implants, we are here to support your oral health journey. Call (02) 9233 3301.