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There are cleanings, and then there are “deep cleanings” – the name commonly used to describe a procedure called scaling and root planing, or SRP for short. It involves first removing plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) both above and below the gumline, using hand tools and an ultrasonic scaler. The roots are then smoothed to make it harder for bacteria to accumulate below the gums.
The idea is to give damaged periodontal tissues a chance to heal. And if you’re having it done by a biological dentist, chances are that they also use ozone to enhance disinfection and promote that healing.
Ozone’s benefits in treating advanced gum disease in particular – periodontitis – were recently highlighted in a new systematic review and meta-analysis in BMC Oral Health.
Evaluating potentially relevant studies published between 2013 and 2023, the authors found 13 randomized controlled trials that met all of their criteria, involving 655 patients with chronic periodontitis. Each trial had a test group that received ozone therapy in addition to SRP and a control group that got SRP only. Some ozone treatments used ozonated water while others used it in its gaseous form.
Analysis showed that although the results weren’t significantly different in some respects, those in the ozone group showed more improvement in a couple of key areas. For one, their periodontal pockets became much shallower, less ideal harbors for harmful bacteria. Their overall gum health was significantly better, as well.
“Ozone therapy combined with SRP,” concluded the authors,
is superior to SRP alone in improving PD and GI indexes in patients with periodontitis, without increasing adverse reactions, and the effect is worthy of recognition. The research evidence indicates that ozone therapy in patients with chronic periodontitis has a positive effect and it may be beneficial in daily active oral maintenance.
Of course, periodontal therapy is hardly the only procedure in which ozone has a role to play in a holistic, biological practice like ours. It is, after all, a powerful natural antimicrobial, killing harmful organisms – even some that have developed antibiotic resistance – by breaking down the proteins that make up their genetic material. This stops these pathogens from multiplying or surviving in the body. At the same time, it also boosts your body’s natural processes to help healing and increase energy production.
Because of this, we use ozone in literally every procedure we do. All the water we rinse your mouth with is ozonated. We also use it to sterilize our operatories. But there are specific ways in which we employ ozone therapy, as well.
We can use ozone in your regular dental cleanings, for instance, to help prevent decay or to reduce tooth sensitivity. It’s a critical component of safe mercury amalgam removal and an important tool for reducing discomfort after oral surgeries – such as the treatment of osteonecrotic lesions in the jaw (“cavitations”) – while also supporting good healing.
Ozone therapy exemplifies our biological approach, in which we consistently seek the safest, most effective treatments for our patients – naturally powerful, minimally invasive, and supportive of whole body health.
