Ozone Therapy has been used here at the Knoxville Dentist office of J.D. Erpenbach DDS for many years to treat tooth decay and gum disease. Now, scientists are taking the treatment one step further, developing an ozone antiseptic agent called “ozone nano-bubble water†to treat severe gum infections.
The Use of Ozonated Water
In one ozone therapy study, researchers evaluated the bactericidal activities of ozone nano-bubble water against the two main bacterial agents that cause gum disease. Their results showed that the agent can kill periodontal pathogens within 30 seconds of exposure. The next step in their studies to determine the extent to which the agent’s potency may be reduced by a patient’s saliva.
Before non-invasive ozone therapy was introduced, the traditional first step in treated gum disease involved scraping away the dental plaque and calculus from the gum line. With ozone therapy, however, I can eliminate all bacteria without anesthetic, removal of the tooth structure, or discomfort.
How Traditional Ozone Therapy Works
We use an ozone therapy system in this practice which treats bacteria with a burst of ozone, an allotrope of oxygen. The system consists of an ozone generator and a hand piece fitted with a unique application tip which is connected to the CMU3 unit by a delivery and scavenger hose. In just 60 seconds, ozone gas is applied to the infected tooth to eliminate bacteria and cavity-causing agents.
Ozone kills the bacteria in your mouth that cause cavities and tooth decay. If infection is already present, O3 gas sterilizes cavities, thereby reducing the need for traditional drilling. This means that the restorative procedure of getting a filling suddenly become much less invasive.
While the effectiveness and potency of the new ozonated water is still up for debate and study, it’s clear ozone therapy is a safe, stable alternative treatment for gum disease.
Are you due for a dental exam and/or teeth cleaning? Contact us by phone:865-584-8630, or schedule an appointment online.
Why Knoxville Dentist Dr. Jim Erpenbach?
Dr. Erpenbach utilizes biomimetic dentistry, which means he creates dental work that imitates the natural teeth as closely as possible. He uses carefully selected materials and the latest science, technology, and techniques to produce incredible dental work. He acknowledges that the natural tooth form is the most perfect restoration and should be preserved or duplicated as close as possible based upon the most current scientific means available. Less is best, the more of the natural tooth we can save the better. Prevention of problems is the key. Dr. Erpenbach is committed to keeping up with the ever changing advances in providing care by being a student for life. Dr. Erpenbach’s team averages 150 hours of Continuing Education each year, and Dr. Erpenbach trains other dentists in biomimetic dentistry.
