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When you hear the word ozone, the first thing that many people think of is air pollution. Yet ozone protects us from harmful sunlight that causes skin cancers. In fact, many critically important uses of this powerful, naturally-occurring gas are not so well known, but they serve us every day.Major cities throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world use ozone to sterilize their public water systems, and ozone is commonly used to sterilize the fruits and vegetables we eat and the bottled water and sodas we drink. It's used in air purification systems, commercial laundries, and swimming pools and spa baths.
The medical community — especially in Europe — has been using ozone for decades to speed up wound-healing and to treat a variety of diseases. Most of the original research was carried out in the U.S. and Europe in the early 1900s.
Controlled ozone application has been found to be extremely safe and free from side effects — far freer than most medications, including antibiotics. What could be more natural since our own bodies produce ozone at the white-cell level to kill offending microorganisms? The ozone molecule is the most powerful agent that we can use on microorganisms. It is deadly to bacteria, viruses, and fungi, yet the more highly evolved human cells are not damaged by ozone in lower concentrations. Ozone's pioneering use in dentistry naturally followed.
Reversing cavities
Another way of looking at ozone is to see it as an activated, excited form of oxygen. The highly unstable ozone molecule (O3) wants desperately to kick off one oxygen so it can return to the more stable O2 molecule. So, does that powerful reaction drive oxygen beneath the surface of a tooth through the tubules and kill bacteria in early decay? Does that essentially start a process that removes bacterial waste products, halts dental cavities, and begins a process of repair via accelerated remineralization? Dr. Ed Lynch and Dr. Julian Holmes, coauthors of the book, “Ozone, the Dental Revolution” (Quintessence 2004), say an unqualified “yes.”Dr. Lynch has been researching ozone for decades and has been involved in almost 100 studies on ozone's effectiveness. One of cosmetic dentistry's pioneers, Dr. Ray Bertolotti, has been touting Dr. Lynch's work for years. The KaVo Company has manufactured a dental ozone delivery unit called the HealOzone, and it is being used by dentists all over the world.
Millions of patients have already been treated with the HealOzone worldwide, and not a single adverse side effect has ever been recorded. Estimates are that there are over 100 HealOzone units currently in use in the U.S.
Originally, the HealOzone unit was about to receive approval as a medical device, but then the FDA decided to treat ozone as a new drug and started the slow approval process all over again. This has stymied sales of the units in the U.S. There is a common misconception among dentists that using ozone in their practices is illegal. Actually, ozone has been grandfathered into usage in the medical and dental world because it was in use before the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act.
There also have been rulings specifically permitting ozone use, most notoriously with the Dr. Atkins case. We can select many materials for use in our dental practices that have not had FDA approval, such as hypochlorite for endodontics. So FDA approval is not necessary and it is completely legal for dentists to use ozone.
Dentists Phil Mollica and Robert Harris have set up training here in the U.S. to teach other dentists the science of ozone, as well as its applications for their dental practices. They already have trained 150 dentists here in the U.S.
Dr. Julian Holmes from England and South Africa also regularly travels to North America to teach and train dentists in the use of ozone in modern dental care.
Uses in dentistry
Lime Technologies is a new international company with a mission to bring ozone and ozonated products not only to the dental world, but also to other types of practices including veterinary science, skin care,home, and recreation, and to help the HIV-infected community. Ozone, for instance, is ideal to treat diabetic f
Are you happy with your smile? The photoshoot is a click away and when everyone shouts cheers, your lips are sealed with a half-smile that don’t show your teeth. How fluent is your word pronunciation? Is it affected by a gap in your teeth? Millions of people still suffer from tooth loss mainly due to decay and maybe trauma or diseases. A dental implant is a sure remedy and is considered as a form of cosmetic dentistry as it seeks to address the patient’s dental satisfaction.
What are Dental Implants?
They are fabricated screw like tooth roots placed in the jaw bone and serve as a firm foundation for the crown known as the artificial teeth. The crowns are tailored to look like the original teeth and also sized to fit into the mouth. Dental implants are not new, they have been in use for years and the demand for them is currently on the rise. They are the strongest materials that support teeth replacement. They offer ease and the new teeth bonded to them looks, feel and function like natural teeth.
Why use Dental Implants?
- They improve one’s appearance, making you feel and look like you are wearing your natural teeth.
- They support bone growth and also preserve the natural bone.
- Implants do not slip or shift when the mouth undergoes activity like eating and speaking.
- Poorly arranged dentures, missing tooth or teeth can cause poor and degraded speech production as the misarranged teeth serve as an embarrassing obstruction to free flow of words causing slurring or mumblings.
- Dental implants give the confidence of speaking without such fears or worries.
- They are durable and can last a lifetime if well preserved.
- It feels comfortable in the mouth and saves one the stress of daily removing and fixing.
- With dental implants, you can win yourself esteem back and go back to eating all the food you would have thought of battling to chew.
Types OF Dental Implants
They are classified based on the type of procedure carried out to place them. The best option is left to the patient’s decision.
- Two-stage implants
- Endosteal implants
- Single-stage implants
- Subperiosteal implants.
Visiting the Dentist
If undergoing a dental implantation is your choice, be rest assured that there are well-trained professionals that can carry out this procedure which is 80% predictable.
A treatment plan is organized which best suits the patient’s needs and specifications. Before the commencement of the implantation, your dental professional will examine your teeth and gums to ensure your bone is strong and for those with soft bones, bone grafting is carried out.
- A titanium post known as the tooth root implant is embedded into the bone socket where the missing tooth occupied. Within 2 to 6 weeks, the bone undergoes a healing process known as osteointegration and grows around the implant.
- After the bonding, an abutment known as a small connected post is bonded to the implant. This is what holds the new tooth in place.
- Impressions of the teeth are made and a new tooth or teeth is fabricated based on the impressions taking into consideration the color, shape and dental arrangement.
- The new modeled tooth or teeth is the replacement tooth known as the crown.
- The crown is then attached to the abutment.
Minor discomforts experienced are taken care of by prescriptions and the surgeries heal in no time.
Viola!!! Don’t your teeth just look perfect like there was never a gap?
Preserving Your Dental Implants
To ensure it lasts longer, dental implants require care like the natural teeth. Quit smoking, Brush twice, floss and visit the dentist for frequent check-ups is vital.
