TI:  Periodontology: New Methods

DT:  April 10, 1991

AU:  A.W. Brauner
     Clinic For Conservation, Periodontology and Preventive 
     Dentistry - Dental School Of the RWTH, Aachen, Germany

SO:  Ozone Science & Engineering Vol. 14, pp. 165-176

AB:  In a clinical four-week study, the effect of ozone water was 
     examined exclusively or in combination with professional 
     measures of oral hygiene.  A test group with a usual home-
     care habit of exercising oral hygiene and another group 
     whose teeth were professionally cleaned were taken as 
     control groups.  Follow-up examinations were carried out 
     after another four weeks.

     Complete removal of plaque could be obtained only with 
     professional tooth cleaning.  Plaque formation, however, was 
     reduced when applying ozone water, and the inflammatory 
     signs, measured with SBI (Sulcus Bleeding Index) and SFFR 
     (Sulcus Fluid Flow Rate), had disappeared.  After 
     discontinuing rinsing applications, we have obtained the 
     values complying with the initial measurements.  It has 
     become apparent that rinsing applications are no replacement 
     of mechanical tooth cleaning at all, but they will effect 
     regression of the inflammation.  No clinical side-effects 
     could be observed, so that at least short-term ozonized 
     water application seemed to be indicated.

     In a control study using ultrasonography with rinsing 
     applications of ozone water, the first-mentioned good 
     results were obtained in comparison with the conventional 
     therapy, such as root planing and scaling.