A Minimally Invasive Method to Combat Gum Disease
Sore, inflamed, or bleeding gums, chronic bad breath, and/or increased sensitivity when eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth are all potential signs of gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, this serious oral health problem gets worse over time, causing gum inflammation, periodontal pockets, gum recession, and loose teeth. Without treatment, gum disease can progress to periodontitis and lead to jawbone deterioration and tooth loss. A gum infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause more widespread health problems.
Research shows advanced periodontal disease is associated with worsening symptoms in people with diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease. At Alpha Dental Practice & Implant Center, we believe in a biological, integrative, and holistic approach to dental care, with treatment personalized to each patient’s unique oral and overall health needs. As such, we offer minimally invasive gum disease treatment in Coral Springs, FL called ozone therapy. This gentler, evidence-based treatment is effective at stopping gum disease, as well as tooth decay—and preventing significant oral health issues before they arise.
What is Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy is currently used for a wide range of oral health issues, especially by biological dentists. Dental cavities, periodontal disease, and oral mucosal lesions are primarily caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The bacteria that cause these issues are anaerobic—this means they thrive in low-oxygen environments. Composed of oxygen atoms, ozone is a gas shown to be successful in destroying harmful bacteria without affecting the balance of beneficial microorganisms or structures in your mouth. Unlike chemical disinfectants, this treatment is hypoallergenic and leaves behind no toxic byproducts. If you’re particularly sensitive, there’s no need to worry about having an adverse reaction.
The Dynamic Benefits of Ozone Therapy
- Destroys oral bacteria, viruses and fungi
- Natural disinfectant for diseased soft tissue
- Protects teeth
- Decreases sensitivity
- Promotes healing
- Begins working immediately
- Hypoallergenic
- Gentle and minimally invasive treatment
- Reduces dental anxiety
Why Choose Ozone Therapy?
Ozone therapy provides a gentle and minimally invasive alternative to traditional gum disease treatment. By irrigating infected areas with ozonated water or applying ozonated gas, harmful oral bacteria are destroyed, leading to reduced sensitivity and inflammation. This innovative treatment promotes healing, protects against future infections, and enhances overall oral health at Alpha Dental Practice & Implant Center in Coral Springs, FL.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of ozone therapy in treating different types of dental caries, including pit and fissure, root, and interproximal caries. Ozone is applied directly to the tooth using a handpiece with a silicon cup, where it acts by oxidizing bacterial cell walls and inhibiting biofilm formation. While further clinical studies are needed to establish ozone therapy as a standalone treatment for dental caries, it shows promise as an alternative or adjunct therapy to conventional drilling and filling methods.
Ozonated water has shown potential as an effective irrigation alternative to chemicals in endodontic treatment, with antimicrobial activity and minimal tissue toxicity. It has demonstrated successful canal sterilization and increased healing processes. While further research is needed, ozonated water has shown bactericidal activity against certain oral microorganisms and plaque biofilm, though its effectiveness against Enterococcus faecalis may be limited. In some cases, single-visit treatment with ozone therapy has led to complete remission of periapical lesions.
The use of ozonated water has shown effectiveness in controlling oral microorganisms in dental plaque, including gram-positive, gram-negative, and Candida albicans. Ozone water demonstrated the inactivation of periodontitis-causing microorganisms and reduction in plaque, gingival, and bleeding indices compared to chlorhexidine. Ozonated water has been found to decontaminate root surfaces without negative effects on remaining periodontal cells and can be applied using various techniques such as irrigation, insufflation, and topical application.
Ozone has shown effectiveness in cleaning removable partial denture alloys without negatively affecting their quality. It can be used to disinfect prepared teeth and control denture stomatitis through topical application of ozonated oil. Studies have demonstrated that ozonated water reduces the number of Candida albicans on denture plates, with flowing ozonated water significantly reducing viable C. albicans cells, and the combination of ozonated water and ultrasonication further enhancing the effect on C. albicans viability on acrylic resin plates.
Ozone therapy has been shown to accelerate wound healing and promote faster healing without complications after tooth extractions or surgical procedures. It’s beneficial in the treatment of refractory osteomyelitis in the head and neck, enhancing the effects of antibiotics, surgery, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Ozone therapy, combined with antibiotics and antifungal therapies, has been successfully used as a non-invasive treatment for bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis of the jaw, resulting in complete healing of the lesions.
A study demonstrated that gaseous ozone effectively reduced adherent bacteria on titanium and zirconia surfaces without affecting the adhesion and growth of osteoblastic cells. Ozone eliminated Porphyromonas gingivalis within 24 seconds to below detectable levels, while Streptococcus sanguis exhibited higher resistance and showed the greatest reduction on zirconia substrates.
Suffering From Bacteria-Infected Teeth or Gums?
Schedule holistic treatment to protect more than your smile today.