How Ozone Works

Safe Ozone Therapy in Dentistry…   and Beyond

 

 

When most people hear the word ‘ozone’ the first thing that comes to mind usually has something to do with atmospheric conditions over the Antarctic. For those of us in the holistic dental field, ozone means much more.

 

 

 

How Ozone Works

Ozone, a gas known as O3, wipes out bacteria, fungi and other toxins that invade the body while causing zero harm to the human body. This is done by exciting the regular stable oxygen (O2) to the highly unstable O3 state. The Ozone molecule wants to shed that extra oxygen atom to return to its stable state very badly. When placed in the area of infection, Ozone unloads that extra oxygen molecule, which binds to anaerobic bacteria, fungi or viruses and blows them up!

 

The Many Uses of Ozone

Research on the use of ozone indicates that it may lend itself to a variety of health optimizing therapies in various medical modalities. The natural oxidizing properties of O3 is known to promote health in many ways including;

  • Anti-aging
  • Oxygenation increases in blood cells
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Increases energy production in cells
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Reduces acidity in the body
  • Anti-microbial
  • Kills cancer cells

 

The Science About Ozone

Ozone is a versatile bio-oxidative therapy in which oxygen/ozone is administered to a patient to obtain therapeutic benefits. Ozone therapy has been used for treatment of various diseases for more than a century. Ozone interferes with the metabolism of bacterium-cells, inhibiting and blocking the operation of the enzymatic control system. A sufficient amount of ozone breaks through the cell membrane leading to the destruction of the bacteria.

Its unique properties, noninvasive nature, absence of side effects or adverse reactions drew attention from healthcare practitioners, who rightly viewed it as an important medical treatment. In dentistry, Ozone is used today in a variety of ways; in its gaseous form, as ozonated water and as ozonated oils. In all aspects of the medical field, the high oxidation potential of ozone makes is an exciting element in the fight against:

  • Bacteria
  • Protozoa (an advanced type of fungus)
  • Viruses
  • Fungi

Laboratory studies have long proven the promising potential of ozone therapy in dentistry, and it is used more and more in applications at dental offices all over the world.  Recognized as a preventive therapy in dental cavities or caries and an effective disinfectant in root canal work, ozone has also been used successfully in the treatment of more severe conditions including bone diseases of the jaw. It is powerful in the prevention of plaque formation and it is sometimes added to the dental unit water line to purify and disinfect water.

No matter how it is used, ozone is completely painless in its application, it is biocompatible and helps stimulate blood circulation while increasing the body’s natural immune response.

 

 

Prevention and Ozone Therapy in Dentistry

The use of ozone therapy in dentistry is particularly exciting when it comes to preventative care. With its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties it not only stops the growth of cavities but also helps prevent and reverse the damage caused by cavities. Ozone’s capacity to oxidize – or essentially dissolve bacterial cells makes it possible to completely stop the production of bacteria. As an agent of oxidation, ozone proves lethal to a range of harmful microorganisms without damaging healthy living cells in this process.

When ozone is used in conjunction with re-mineralizing agents, it promotes the regeneration of hard, healthy tooth structure.  And under the right conditions, ozone therapy can lead to remineralization of a decayed tooth, potentially restoring it to complete health.

Another way ozone lends itself to healing and prevention is in the treatment of periodontitis, or gum disease. Periodontitis is bacterial in nature and since ozone has been proven effective at eliminating bacteria, it is the perfect treatment for this disease. In addition to its antimicrobial aspects, ozone’s anti-inflammatory properties make it highly beneficial in fighting gum disease and promoting long-term healing process.

 

The Bottom Line on Ozone

The availability of ozone treatment in both the medical field and the dental field is rather low in the United States when compared to its use in other developed nations. But, as research continues to prove that ozone is an effective and safe treatment, demand for its use will only continue to rise. While traditional dental practices prefer to stick with the traditional tried-and-true methods of invasive dentistry alone, ozone therapy is fast becoming a fundamental element in the standard of care for modern holistic and natural dentistry practices. Today ozone is used in almost all aspects of dentistry.

Dr. A. J. Boyajian works in unison with qualified health experts, creating complete dental and general health programs for patients. When it comes to something as valuable as your teeth, you want to be sure they remain strong and beautiful for a lifetime. To learn more about what Ozone Therapy can do for you, call our office at 310-670-6944.

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Ozone Dentistry

Ozone Therapy in Dentistry and Beyond

When most people hear the word ‘ozone’ the first thing that comes to mind usually has something to do with atmospheric conditions over the Antarctic. For those of us in the holistic dental field, ozone means much more.

The Facts About Ozone

Ozone, a gas known as O3, is a versatile bio-oxidative therapy in which oxygen/ozone is administered to a patient to obtain therapeutic benefits. Ozone therapy has been used for treatment of various diseases for more than a century. Its unique properties, noninvasive nature, absence of side effects or adverse reactions drew attention from healthcare practitioners who rightly viewed it as an important medical treatment. In dentistry, Ozone is used today in a variety of ways; in its gaseous form, as ozonated water and as ozonated oils. In all aspects of the medical field, the high oxidation potential of ozone makes is an exciting element in the fight against:

    • Bacteria
    • Protozoa (an advanced type of fungus)
    • viruses
  • fungi

Laboratory studies have long proven the promising potential of ozone therapy in dentistry, and it is used more and more in applications at dental offices all over the world.  Recognized as a preventive therapy in dental cavities or caries and an effective disinfectant in root canal work, ozone has also been used successfully in the treatment of more severe conditions including bone diseases of the jaw. It is powerful in the prevention of plaque formation and it is sometimes added to the dental unit water line to purify and disinfect water.

No matter how it is used, ozone is completely painless in its application, biocompatible and helps to stimulate blood circulation while increasing the body’s natural immune response.

Ozone Applications are Endless

Research on the use of ozone indicates that it may lend itself to a variety of health optimizing therapies in many medical modalities. The natural oxidizing properties of O3 is known to promote health in a variety of ways including;

    • Anti-aging
    • Increases oxygenation in blood cells
    • Boosts the immune system
    • Increases energy production in cells
    • Anti-inflammatory
    • Reduces acidity in the body
    • Anti-microbial
  • Kills cancer cells

Prevention and Ozone Therapy in Dentistry

The use of ozone therapy in dentistry is particularly exciting when it comes to preventative care. With its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties it can not only stop the growth of cavities it may actually prevent and reverse the damage caused by cavities. Ozone’s capacity to oxidize – or essential dissolve bacterial cells makes it possible to completely halt the production of bacteria. As an agent of oxidation, ozone proves lethal to a range of harmful microorganisms without damaging healthy living cells in this process.

When ozone is used in conjunction with re-mineralizing agents it promotes the regeneration of hard, healthy tooth structure.  And under the right conditions ozone therapy can lead to remineralization of a decayed tooth, potentially restoring it to complete health.

Another way ozone lends itself to healing and prevention is in the treatment of periodontitis, or gum disease. Periodontitis is bacterial in nature and since ozone has been proven effective at eliminating bacteria, it is the perfect treatment for this disease. In addition to its antimicrobial aspects, ozone’s anti-inflammatory properties make it highly beneficial in fighting gum disease and promoting long-term healing process.  

The Bottom Line on Ozone

The availability of ozone treatment in both the medical field and the dental field is rather low in the United States when compared to its use in other developed nations. But, as research continues to prove that ozone is an effective and safe treatment, demand for its use can only continue to rise. While traditional dental practices prefer to stick with the tried-and-true methods of invasive dentistry alone, ozone therapy is fast becoming a fundamental element in the standard of care for modern holistic and natural dentistry practices. Today ozone is used in almost all aspects of dentistry.

Dr. Boyajian works in unison with qualified health experts, creating complete dental and general health programs for patients. When it comes to something as valuable as your teeth, you want to be sure they remain strong and beautiful for a lifetime. To learn more about what Ozone Therapy can do for you call our office at 844-855-8821.

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Treating Gum Recession with Dr. Chao’s Pinhole Surgical Technique (TM)

Treating Gum Recession with Dr. Chao’s Pinhole Surgical Technique (TM)

 

The traditional way gum recession is treated is by performing gum grafts. Gum grafts are essentially stitching extra gum tissue (taken from elsewhere in the patient’s mouth) to the affected area. The body heals and returns the patient to normal, by sewing everything up, and waiting several months for it to merge. This method is effective and dentists are trained to treat more severe cases of gum recession. However, gum grafting is slow, invasive, riskier, and generally  an expensive process that interferes with the patient’s daily life.

Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST)

That’s why we are so excited about the Pinhole Surgical Technique (PST). If you saw the video I previously shared, you can see an illustration of the two methods compared side-by-side. The PST is a quick, simple, low-maintenance procedure with healthy and natural-looking results. I imagine patients would watch it and think, “Why on earth have dentists not come up with this sooner?” I agree.

PST is a method by which a tool is inserted directly into the gum tissue and is used to gently, partially separate the tissue from the underlying facial bones. The tool is like a hooked needle, which sounds awful, but it means nothing gets sliced up. The only mark left behind is — you guessed it — a little pinhole that heals up in a matter of hours.

After the insertion and loosening of the gum tissue, the gums are then pushed downward (or upward, depending on where we’re working) around sterile teeth. When the gums are nice and cozy up against the teeth again, treatment is finished. Collagen is then inserted behind the gums to stabilize them and speed up the healing process.

Essentially, the Pinhole Technique doesn’t only physically manipulates the gums so that they once again surround and envelop the teeth. But it also stimulates the surrounding area so the gums continue to grow and flourish and stay put in their proper place. A clean, disease-free environment is important, however, and this technique is not appropriate while gum disease is present.

Healing takes place in a matter of days, even overnight for some cases. The patient may not have to take time off work or interrupt his or her busy life. The pain and medical risks are minimal, if any. It is truly amazing, and I’m excited to incorporate it into my practice. I hope many future patients will benefit from this new technique.

Dr. Boyajian, Los Angeles

https://dentalwellnessarts.com

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Dental Care While Pregnant or Breastfeeding, Pt. 3

So I’ve talked your ears off about the importance of dentally preparing before pregnancy happens, especially if your body needs to detox from mercury vapor. But, like the majority of people, you probably have not done so. Mothers and mothers-to-be, something urgent comes up and you must go to the dentist for one reason or another. What are things you should be aware of?

First off, do not mess with amalgam (metal) fillings in your teeth until you are done breastfeeding. Each case has its own individual implications, so if for some reason yours need working on, you’ll have to talk to me directly about the safest way to do so.

Secondly, most dentists use an array of chemicals in their offices for various purposes (sterilization, anesthesia, antibiotics, sedation, painkilling, etc.). I use them myself; I just prefer not to when I don’t have to. Again, these substances are generally accepted as having no ill effect on a pregnancy after short-term use. I will say, however, that NSAIDs should be strictly avoided.

For a mother, I personally am not comfortable with any exposure, period, and will avoid it as far as I can; but it’s up to you to do your research, ask questions, and be involved in the decisions made for your and your child(ren)’s health. Part of why I am so excited about using ozone in my dentistry is because it is multi-functional and completely safe, even for members of society with more vulnerable physical health. It is no-risk with fabulous results. Using it with a laser takes care of many things that dentists keep various chemicals on hand for.

Lastly, specifically for those breastfeeding, I offer practical advice. If your in this situation where you must see a dentist for a problem while nursing, there are precautions you should take. Drugs you take are passed to your milk  in concentrations of 1-3% of your dose. It may not sound like much, but it doesn’t take much to start polluting the development of infants. The drugs are usually cleared from your system in 24 hours. To avoid passing any toxins to your baby, pump extra milk at least a day before your appointment (it is a sound decision to have extra breastmilk stored anyway for situations like this). On the day of appointment after the drugs, anesthetics, etc., are administered, pump and throw away the milk you produce for the next 24 hours.

After that it is safe to continue nursing your child normally. If you notice any adverse effects in you or your child, call the doctor immediately.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Dental Care While Pregnant or Breastfeeding, Pt. 2

Most moms and moms-to-be know that dental care is recommended throughout pregnancy, since hormonal changes can cause more of a susceptibility to discomfort and infection. Dental problems also may bring to light a more serious underlying problem that these mothers should be aware of. Though it is my personal opinion that most dental evaluation and care should be taken care of before conception (a long time before conception if mercury removal is involved), I believe that light, routine dental care, such as cleanings or mild gingivitis treatment can be safe and effective during pregnancy.

Since my practice uses ozone in place of many harsher chemicals and typical dental medications, much can be done without fretting about affecting babies in utero or through mom’s milk. Healing is accelerated and accomplished more naturally when ozone is used. An already concerned mother should never be forced to compromise between “following the doctor’s orders” by getting dental care but exposing her developing children to drugs and toxins. Cleaning is harmless if there are no mercury fillings to agitate.

Many of the common drugs, painkillers, antibiotics, anesthetics, etc. used in the dentist’s office have been declared “safe,” or at least not significantly detrimental for a pregnant or nursing mother. A good dentist is cognizant of the most recent information regarding safe substances for his pregnant or nursing patients. For many patients, the reassurance that those substances are safe enough is all they need. However, others want to remain as clean and toxin-free as possible. I lean toward this side myself. Even if no adverse effects are found on growing babies, inside or outside the womb, there is no guarantee that there are other long-term consequences for dental drug exposure. Every drug is a foreign substance to the body; every drug is designed to manipulate certain functions in order to successfully carry out a medical purpose. In many cases they are lifesavers and great aids in the process of healing and managing pain.

But there is always, always a consequence, seen or unseen, for this medical/dental intervention or manipulation. It is only logical to conclude that delicately growing babies will be affected to some degree. We may not see it right away. It may remain undetected as the baby grows into childhood, then adulthood, and accumulates other health problems that would never be connected with Mom’s treatments while pregnant or nursing. The important thing is to educate yourself as best you can and make the best decisions for your family’s health.

I’ll get to the practical side of things in the next post.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

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Icon Dental Treatment

There’s a very new kind of treatment recently released for early-stage cavities. This treatment is fabulous in that it uses no drilling or anesthesia for halting and even reversing growing pre-cavities. If you happen to discover white spots on your teeth, see the dentist. A white spot is actually an indication of enamel weakness and where a cavity will eventually develop. Icon gets rid of these, not only restoring the enamel, but also the tooth’s consistent pearly-whiteness.

The treatment is a quick step-by-step process where the tooth and damaged area are cleaned and kept dry (easy for me with my handy-dandy ozonating machine); a series of Icon’s special gels are applied, each left to sit for a designated activation & infiltration time, then carefully cleaned off; the teeth are polished; and that’s it! The entire process can be as short as 15 minutes with absolutely no painful drilling or invasive removal of natural materials. Immediately after the procedure, dramatic cosmetic improvements will be noticeable.

Check out Icon’s demonstration on YouTube… and if you are one of those individuals who are dentist-phobics, don’t be alarmed. None of this feels as weird as it looks, by far. If you still can’t get past the atmosphere of the place and letting someone prod around your mouth, I have that covered too.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

P.S. By the way, “caries” are going to be mentioned a lot in the video. Caries is just another name — the sciencey, dental-world name — for cavities. Enjoy!

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Dental Injuries & Treatment

Ouch! This topic may not be so pleasant to visualize. But harm does come to folks’ teeth all too often, maybe because of a car accident, a sports or recreational accident, or some other dreadful mishap. Children are most apt to suffer much damage because of their activity levels and still-developing mouth.

When I say tooth damage, this does not always refer to the visible damage you might see on the surface (the crowns), such as an obviously chipped or broken tooth. A significant amount goes on beneath what can be seen without x-rays or probing about. If an injury causes a tooth to move from its original position, the tooth’s pulp (nerves, blood vessels, etc.), dentin, and the surrounding bone and gums could very well be damaged as well, and that’s where things can get tricky and painful.

We will cover a few kinds of injuries and how they may be fixed over the next few days.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Further Insight On Gum Disease

When we check for signs of gum disease, we use a thin, tiny ruler to measure the depth of these “gaps”, or “pockets”, along your gumline. This can give us an idea of how well your teeth and gums are doing healthwise. Healthy gums and healthy teeth have pockets that measure at 3mm or less, which is equal to slightly less than 1/8 in. However, at around 3mm, early stages of gingivitis (fancy name for the first progression of full-on gum disease) may appear: the swelling, redness, and sensitivity of gums may start becoming a bother. From there, the pocket deepens as the infection grows, slowly separating the tooth from the gum tissue. This is how the tooth becomes loose or how it eventually falls out; the tooth’s root is in serious danger!

Another thing to consider is that these acidic bacteria and their acidic waste (yes, their waste, as in feces!) can become trapped in this pocket between tooth and gums. The gums, most likely, are already pretty swollen, so any deep-cleaning is painful to begin with, which leaves the bacteria to continue multiplying and rotting your tooth. Getting an ozone cleaning will help out with this a little bit, but it’s always the price to pay for poor oral hygiene habits (…or the lack thereof).

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

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Utilizing Ozone in Dental Implant Surgery

See how many great uses ozone has in the office? And, behold! Another one! Ozone is great for every dental surgery, including dental implant surgery.

Implants are used to replace teeth that have been lost or extracted, possibly due to disease or injury. A new “root” is drilled directly through the gums into the upper or lower jaw bone (depending on where the implant is needed) and is secured there. This new “root” will serve as the anchor for an artificial replacement tooth.

As usual, it is important to keep the area sterilized while surgery is being performed. Dental implant surgery goes deeper, literally, than each individual tooth. After surgery, there is a healing period where the surrounding bone and gums must be monitored to ensure that the new teeth are properly integrated into healthy oral function (this includes avoiding gum recession, for example, or infections in the mandible). Ozone is wonderful because it sterilizes more effectively and safely than traditional chemical sterilizers; not only this, but it also stimulates healthy gum healing and helps infuse the bone structure with strengthening minerals.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

How Ozone Therapy Lessens Dental Pain

If you have been treated with ozone therapy before, possibly during your own root canal or periodontitis treatment, did you notice any difference in how painful the process was… or wasn’t?  Ozone actually contains pain-alleviating properties; so instead of a chemical sterilizer (which might cause additional pain to the procedure, or even spark an allergic reaction in the patient), ozone actually gives a slight soothing, clean feeling to the area because of its natural healing qualities. This makes ozone therapy ideal for treating painful afflictions such as canker sores, abscesses, and other disease/wounds. Quick healing ensues, which saves yet another need for prolonged painkiller use!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com