As holistic dentists, we here at Aesthetic Family Dentistry are naturally in favor of any treatment that mimics nature to achieve a goal. Any treatment that avoids medications or invasive procedures benefits the patient and we are in favor of those too. One such procedure is ozone therapy for dental cavities.
Ozone therapy is proving itself effective at treating cavities and helping with root canal treatments. So what is it and how does it work?
Ozone therapy for cavities
Cavities, or dental caries, are caused by bacteria that get into cracks and holes within the tooth. Left untreated, this bacteria creates cavities within the tooth that would traditionally need treatment that includes a filling to address. However, that isn’t the only way to treat dental caries.
Ozone therapy has been around for a while now and is proving very effective at treating cavities. Ozone gas is gently applied to the affected tooth. This gas kills the bacteria quickly and without any drilling or discomfort. Then, we encourage remineralization, which is essentially helping the tooth regrow before the bacteria can return.
The process may need a couple of visits, but findings show that when a tooth regrows in this manner it comes back stronger and more bacteria resistant. That is good news for both dentists and patients!
In the vast majority of cases, there is no drilling necessary for ozone therapy for cavities. Only if there is no way for the gas to get to the decay will we need to be invasive. Then, the smallest possible channel is created to make a path for the gas.
Ozone is a natural gas made up of oxygen that has been split into three molecules and then negatively charged to form O3, ozone. Ozone is widely used in medicine to sterilize equipment as well as water companies to help clean our drinking water. It is perfectly safe.
Advantages of using ozone for the treatment of cavities
There are obvious advantages of this treatment. There may be no need for drilling, anesthesia, fillings or invasive procedures. If the cavity is accessible, a simple application of ozone gas to the area and some minor maintenance around the tooth could suffice to treat the condition.
Regular readers of our blog know that we are holistic dentists and are interested in overall wellbeing as well as your oral health. This treatment satisfies all our criteria. It is simple, cost-effective, needs little or no invasive work, could avoid having a filling and allows the body’s natural processes fill the tooth cavity on its own. That’s why we recommend ozone therapy to those patients who are suitable.
If you would like to discuss ozone for the treatment of cavities contact Aesthetic Family Dentistry today at 973 627 3617 to schedule a consultation.
