Ozone therapy-new innovation in dentistry

Abstract

Ozone has been used as a therapy since the 19th century. Christian Friedrich Schonbein demonstrated the changes in the properties of oxygen with the formation of the particular gas called ozone. Ozone (O3) is naturally produced by the photo-dissociation of molecular oxygen (O2) into activated oxygen atoms, which then react with further oxygen molecules. This transient radical anion rapidly becomes protonated, generating hydrogen trioxide (HO3), which, in turn, decomposes to an even more powerful oxidant, the hydroxyl radical (OH). Ozone is an unstable gas and it quickly gives up nascent oxygen molecule to form oxygen gas. Due to the property of releasing nascent oxygen, ozone has found to be effective against gram-positive and gram‑negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Controlled ozone application has been found to be extremely safe, free from side effects and far free from most medications, including antibiotics. Ozone is a promising treatment modality for various dental problems in future. But, it has to be kept in mind that presently ozone is an adjunct to other conventional treatment modalities and should be used in combination until more research shows benefits in independent usage.