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At Virtue Dental Care, we use ozone therapy to aid in tooth restoration for patients near the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Ozone therapy has many benefits and advantages, including the ability to disinfect the tooth after decay removal and minimize sensitivity.
Ozone is an often-misunderstood element. Many people think it is unhealthy or a pollutant, which is simply not the case. Ozone is a natural substance (a variation of oxygen) and has many therapeutic uses, including the ability to stimulate a healing response in the body.
Ozone (O3) is both an oxidant and an oxidizer. Healthy cells have antioxidant enzymes that allow them to be protected from ozone. Pathogens such as bacteria have almost no antioxidant enzymes, which leaves them susceptible to being destroyed by ozone. Since ozone is simply three atoms of oxygen, there are no extra chemicals or additives and no side effects of ozone therapy. There are also no contraindications with other medications. In fact, our body’s white blood cells actually make ozone to help the immune system when fighting infections.
Ozone therapy can disinfect the tooth structure when significant decay-causing bacteria have impacted it. In cases of severe decay that has penetrated the enamel, the tooth needs to be sealed, often with a crown, in order to strengthen the weakened tooth structure and protect it from decay. Ozone therapy can dramatically reduce the sensitivity that occurs after decay removal and restoration. Ozone can increase circulation or oxygenation in the treated area and also helps boost immune response.
When a decayed tooth is sterilized with ozone, it minimizes the risk of a new cavity forming. It does this by eliminating residual bacteria that can cause inflammation, infection, or disease.
The team at Virtue Dental Care believes in providing state-of-the-art options in biological dentistry, which includes the use of ozone therapy. In our office, we have become consistent in using ozone prior to the placement or replacement of restorations. In the case of an extraction, ozonated water can be used to irrigate the empty sockets. Teeth that have become deeply infected or abscessed can benefit from ozone disinfection before sealing them. Ozone can also be used to kill the bacteria responsible for gum disease.
Ozone therapy was originally used in medicine in Sweden back in the 1920s. Its use has been primarily for sterilizing water used in surgeries or in the disinfection of medical equipment. In recent years, more holistic dentists have begun to incorporate ozone therapy into procedures to disinfect teeth naturally.
Ozone can be used directly in tooth cavities to kill any lingering bacteria before it penetrates deeper into the tooth. With large areas of decay, ozone can be used for sterilization to minimize the volume of tooth structure that needs to be removed. When large areas of natural tooth structure are removed, it can greatly impact the strength of the teeth. Ozone therapy helps us perform more conservative restorations.
At Virtue Dental Care, ozone therapy to aid in tooth restoration for patients near the Charlotte, North Carolina area.
Ozone is an extremely powerful antimicrobial agent. Our dental team uses small applications of ozone, either in gas or liquid form, on infected areas of the teeth or gums to promote natural, effective destruction of the bacteria.
In the end, ozone therapy is a way that patients can decrease expenses, minimize long-term trauma, and improve recovery when receiving dental restorations.
At Virtue Dental Care, ozone is just one of the ways we help our patients achieve maximum health and wellness. As a biological dentistry practice, we are committed to using safe, conservative, and minimally invasive means of restoring oral health and improving the beauty of your smile. If you are close to the Charlotte, NC, area, we invite you to call our office or visit our website to learn more about our services. Whether you need ozone therapy or are simply looking for a dentist who takes a more holistic approach to dentistry, we can help. To discover a new way of dental care, call us at (336) 606-0040.