WHAT IS OZONE?
Ozone is a form of oxygen. All oxygen is a gas; that fresh, clean smell that you find at high altitudes and after thunderstorms is ozone. It is an atmospheric protection against harmful sunlight and present all around us in the air we breathe. Ozone is named after the Greek word Ozein, to smell.

WHAT IS OZONE USED FOR?
Apart from the protection it gives us against harmful UV light, without which life would cease on the planet, ozone is a powerful oxidising agent, which has been widely used over the past 40 years to purify water systems. It has been used for many years to purify the water you drink.

Ozone is natural biocide, which effectively kills bacteria, viruses and fungi within seconds. It is used in various areas including hospitals and public places to control infections and smells.

Due to its bactericidal, fungicidal and virostatic properties ozone is used widely in disinfecting wounds and killing diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The technology utilises the direct application of ozone to the decayed tooth surface in a controlled manner through the use of the HealOzone System and is capable of potentially reversing caries. Ozone kills the bacteria arresting the further development of caries

Tooth decay is the process where teeth rot and crumble away due to an attack of acid. Initially the acid disilves the minerals on the tooth surface, creating a porous lesion capable of harbouring bacteria. If left untreated, the acid strips away the hard outer layer of the tooth (enamel) and penetrates the softer inner layer (dentine). If this is allowed to proceed it results in dental decay.

The acid is a product of naturally occurring bacteria that adheres to the tooth surface, which uses sugar in our diet as food.

HOW DOES OZONE WORK?
Ozone works by identifying and breaking up the cell walls of bacteria. Viruses and fungi, and breaking up sulphur compounds into non-smelling compounds.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

• No need for anaesthetic by injection
  
• No annoying drilling
  
• No long treatment sessions
  

HOW CAN OZONE HELP MY TEETH?
With the use of a small laser, called the DIAGNOdent, we can look at the surface of your teeth to identify caries. The diagnodent detects changes in in the mineral and crystal composition of the dentine which affect the density of the tooth structure, this gives us an idea of whether and how much decay is present. A special handpiece, with a soft plastic cup, is then used to apply ozone onto the decayed area. It is a short simple and painless procedure. There are no injections, drilling or tooth amputation necessary, so no damage to your tooth.

Ozone kills the acid producing bacteria that grow out of control and cause delay. Once these bacteria have been eliminated from the local area a special liquid mineral is put on the cleaned area of decay. This encourages tooth remineralisation process. We also recoommend a special toothopaste and mouth rinse to continue healing. These products contain all the essential minerals your body needs to repair decay. Regular use of the home kit encourages the success of your Ozone treament.

HOW DO I KNOW THAT THE TREATMENT HAS WORKED?
You will need to return after 2-3 months, in most cases, or sooner, if recommended, to check that the lesion is healing. The research shows that in over 80% of cases, the decay has been stopped or reversed.

DO I FEEL ANYTHING?
HealOzone treatment is entirely painless, with no invasive treatment required.

Note: in some cases, HealOzone can also be used in conjunction with with other treatments, especially for larger cavities where lesions may be opened by drilling prior to HealOzone application. This increases accessibility and assists remineralisation.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES?
The alternatives to ozone are traditional treatment methods, some of which may have been offered to you in the past.

These are:

• Fissure sealant and air abrasion that is the least invasive of the traditional treatments.
  
• The tooth can be made numb with an injection, the decay drilled out and then the hole filled.
  
• Doing nothing and risking further decay and pain which is inevitable
  
• Having the tooth removed completely, rarely a recommended option.br>

DIETARY ADVICE
In order to ensure successful treatment it is important to make sure you follow a healthy diet, where possible excluding foods with high levels of sugar and acid. This includes avoiding all carbonated drinks, which lead to caries.

You should be brushing your teeth at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, or as recommended by your dentist. Your dentist may recommend use of the specialist HealOzone ttothpase and mouth rinse as they include high levels of minerals to encourage faster remineralisation