The video below shows a microscopic view of dental plaque (soft biofilm on the teeth and under the gums) taken from two different patients (see the video below).

The unhealthy sample shows a tremendous number of pathogenic (harmful) organisms. These organisms include bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungus. Microscopic analysis like this is done for every patient in my office. Infection like this contributes to many systemic health diseases including strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and low birth weight babies and the list is growing as more research is being done. Unfortunately, many people have highly infected mouths like this and are not aware of it. Often patients will only complain of gums that bleed occasionally not thinking that their health is at risk. As a top level cosmetic dentist and implant dentist I must first reduce the level of infection in the mouth before I can do any cosmetic, implant or even routine dental therapy. It would be inappropriate to pursue cosmetic and implant care if the infection level was not properly reduced in the mouth first. Our periodontal (gum) treatments can significantly reduce the levels of harmful oral infection so our Charlotte, North Carolina and South Carolina patients will have optimal oral health and therefore optimal health in the rest of the body.

Our disinfection therapy along with our patients improved home care has eliminated the need periodontal (gum and bone) surgery for many of our patients. In addition to traditional periodontal (gum and bone) therapy our patients have the option of using ozone to treat the infection in their mouths. Ozone has been shown to destroy bacteria, virus and fungus. Since all these organism exist in the mouth ozone is ideally suited for oral disinfection. All our oral disinfectants contain no artificial chemicals. Finally, we can treat gum infections with laser therapy to further reduce the need for traditional periodontal surgery. Patients also have the option to be referred to a periodontist for their gum and bone therapy.

Ozone therapy can treat newly formed cavities and and help treat more advanced cavities along with traditional treatment.

Ozone is also used in our biologic root canal therapy.

Ozone:

Ozone is an unstable form of oxygen which consist of 3 oxygen atoms (O3). It reacts with other gases, changing their chemical structure. As ozone oxidizes/disinfects, it destroys harmful bacteria & contaminants, then reverts to normal oxygen.

How Does Ozone Kill Bacteria?

Sequence of ozone destroying a bacterium

• 1. Computer generated model of a bacilus (rod shaped) bacterial cell
• 2. Ozone (green) comes into contact with the cell wall. The cell wall is vital to the bacteria becasue it ensures the organism can maintain its shape
• 3. Once ozone makes contact, a mechanism called an oxidative burst occurs which literally creates a tiny hole in the cell wall
• 4. A close up view of the cell wall
• 5. Image of cell after constant bombardment by the ozone
• 6. After a few seconds, and thousands of ozone collisions later, the bacterial wall can no longer maintain its shape and the cell dies

The human body also protects itself via oxidative burst! White blood cells will seek out bacteria in the bloodstream. The bacteria will envelope the white cell. Once inside the cell wall, the white cell metabolizes water into oxidants such as hydroxyl and hydrogen peroxide. The action destroys the cell from the inside out.

In 2002, the Scripps Research Institute department of chemistry in La Jolla, CA discovered chemical signatures similar to ozone were present during oxidative bursts.

Ozone is the most powerful oxidant commercially available!