Ozone Therapy as Treatment in Dentistry

In the past few months we have received several questions about ozone therapy for dental problems. A few patients have even installed ozonators in their homes to help with various medical conditions.

While I can’t speak of ozone in other medical fields, ozone therapy in dentistry is coming of age. It is used to disinfect teeth with cavities and is used to disinfect the root canal prior to filling it. While there is promising research to suggest it works, the difficult question is how long will the tooth or root canal stay disinfected.

Ozone treatment for cavities: There are currently three ozone machines that can disinfect tooth decay beneath the enamel. Certain protocols call for two or three one minute applications to kill the bacteria. Heavy remineralization therapy is also recommended.

Ozone treatment for root canal therapy and disinfection: The same ozone machines are being used to disinfect roots after cleaning out the nerves and blood vessels. There’s a problem with this scenario however. Root canal therapy is like putting a cork on an infection. Many bacteria are persistent and can flourish in the harshest conditions, including a root canal.

Dentin in teeth are made of tubes called dentinal tubules. If you line up the tubules end to end for the average tooth, it would extend 3 miles. What that means is that we expect a disinfection procedure during root canal therapy to clean 3 miles of tubes that may contain bacteria. Studies have shown that ozone (and laser therapy in dentistry) can disinfect canals and keep them clean for about a year. But after that first year, bacteria finds a way back into the tubes. These bacteria can change from aerobic to anaerobic bacteria. Since there’s no blood flow after filling the root canal space, there’s no way for the body to fight these bacteria. They produce toxins and can release these toxins out of the root (although not through the root canal).

Also, after you fill the root canal with gutta percha or even biocalex or endocal, there’s no way of going back in to re-disinfect the tooth without “opening the tooth” once again. Who would want to have this procedure — root canal therapy — done every year?

You also have to consider what’s happening to the bacteria surrounding the tooth root and in the bone. People, including dentists, forget about the tissues surrounding the tooth, instead focusing on what they can see, the teeth. These infections are sometimes more harmful than the bugs in the dentinal tubes. The abscess or infection in the bone can get into the bloodstream and travel elsewhere. It can also cause disturbances in the meridians (causing problems in distant organs).

Ozone and laser therapy do little to help with these infections (cavitations).

The only incidence where I’d routinely use ozone or lasers for root canal therapy is when the immune system is working 100% efficiently, the tooth can’t easily be replaced, there’s no infections around the root or if it is a front tooth (central incisor). Even then, I’d still recommend an extraction for long term health reasons. (and none this speaks to the potential side-effects of ozone therapy, which are still being researched and discovered).

In summary, ozone and lasers would be good for beneath the surface cavity disinfections, but not for long term root canal disinfections. The technology is promising but if overall health is your primary goal, the avoidance of root canal therapy through prevention is the key. Or if your choice lies between root canal therapy or extraction, choose extraction.

Green Dentistry. Is there such a thing?

In my search for the best information for my blog, I’ve scoured the internet looking to see if there is such a thing called “Green Dentistry.”  With it being hip to be green, from hollywood celebrities to corporate jaggernauts, I’m surprised not many dentists have adopted the concept.

It is common however for dentists to jump on the bandwagon.  Though lately I’ve given more thought to it than most dentists, here ar e few things that any dentist may consider when going green.

1.  Removing mercury fillings and SAFELY discarding them.  I’m not going to mention too much about the mercury toxicity debate but I am going to mention that it is a requirement to dispose of the hazardous material properly.  I know that in my previous office, strict protocols were needed to monitor the substance and extra equipment like amalgam separators.

2.  Energy savings in the office.  As dentists, we want to have nice well-lit offices to create a pleasant environment, but is it right to do at the expense of energy?  Not to mention, the added costs to light up and power the computers and other dental equipment.

3.  Conserve on disposables.  A lot of dentists use barriers to cover up surfaces but all of these plastics and paper products add to landfills.  Dentists should instruct their staff to use spray and wipe techniques to disinfect surfaces.

4.  Paper in the office.  Whenever you go to the dentist for the first time, the first thing they do is give you a clipboard with several pieces of paper… commonly called “The Paperwork.”  Nowadays, offices are computerized and an online form is becoming more popular.  They even have signature pads for you to sign.  The term paperless would be difficult these days but a chartless dental office is now feasible with current software.

5.  Chemicals.  With the advent of digital xrays, dental offices are able to eliminate the need for x-ray developing chemicals.  Choose an office with digital xrays.

6.  Text and email communications instead of postcards and mailed statements.  Another way to cut down on paper is with the use of the internet and cell phones.  People actual prefer a text or email reminder as opposed to a phone call.

This list could be a whole lot longer but these 6 tips are a good way to start.  Feel free to print this out and give it to your dentist.  They may even give you a discount on your next cleaning!

Dr. Marvin

ps.  I’m still working on a book for dentists on how to be environmentally friendly.  Subscribe to this feed for the latest updates.