Tooth decay treated without pain, injection, or drill at the Wharf Dental Practice, Worcester.

Press Release August 2002

Dental treatment without fear of pain, injection, drilling, vibration, or smell has arrived in Worcester. The most advanced pain-free treatment of tooth decay has been introduced at the Wharf Dental Practice. Treatment involves passing ozone gas over the surface of a diseased tooth. The disease is eradicated and the tooth then heals naturally.

Ray Steggles the principal dentist at the Wharf Dental Practice said, “I believe this is the most significant advance in dentistry for many years. It will significantly affect people’s attitude to dental care. Fear of dental treatment affects 50% of the population, and causes many to neglect their mouths.”

‘HealOzone’ is so safe it can be used on pregnant women, children, the elderly, infirm and those with severe medical problems, where conventional treatment is difficult or impossible. Trials have shown that 100% of the sample preferred this treatment to conventional methods.

Conventional treatment for decayed teeth involves amputation of diseased tissue, usually under local anaesthetic using the dental drill. This method has worked fairly well for hundreds of years, but dentists know many fillings fail over a period of years and have to be replaced. No healthy tooth substance is removed by the new system; instead the ozone penetrates deep into the tooth killing off the disease-producing bacteria. Once achieved calcium salts from the saliva flow into the voids, forming crystals which restore and strengthen the tooth over a period of two months. Teeth repaired in this way are less likely to decay again.

The scientific basis was established by researchers at Queen’s University, Belfast; where for eighteen years methods were tested to eradicate decay on the roots of teeth, culminating in the discovery of the effectiveness of ozone three years ago. It became apparent this approach was applicable to decay on all surfaces of teeth, and this technology with minor modifications will be useful for treatment of many dental problems.

Information about HealOzone

How it works

A silicone cup is placed over the tooth. Ozone is passed through the cup over the tooth surface, diffusing through areas of damage, killing bacteria, viruses, and fungi and breaking down the poisons they make. Over several weeks, calcium salts in saliva and the pastes we use pass into the tooth and fill the void left by the bacteria and their by-products. The repaired portion of the tooth is much less likely to decay again.

Frequently asked questions

QUESTION: Are there situations where it won’t work?

ANSWER: Where a tooth is very heavily filled and needs treating because of pain for example, traditional methods are used to remove the filling, then HealOzone used before re-filling the tooth. We can be confident no further decay will occur under the new filling.

QUESTION: Are there any other situations where it won't work?

ANSWER: The HealOzone only works when a seal exists. About 80% of decayed teeth can be treated. Where seals cannot be achieved, Photo-Activated Disinfection is an alternative.

QUESTION: Can it be used to deal with other dental diseases?

ANSWER: Research has been completed showing the successful treatment of decay on roots and biting surfaces of teeth. It is helpful in the treatment of teeth needing root filling. In theory any damage to teeth originating from, or made worse by micro organisms could be treated by using HealOzone.

QUESTION: How much does the treatment cost?

ANSWER: Recent research and experience have shown that repeated applications give the best results. The number of repetitions required depends on the severity of the disease present at the start of treatment. So like all other treatment, it is quicker, easier, and cheaper to treat at the initial stages. Early decay can be treated in just one visit, whilst severe disease may take several applications, followed by resurfacing of the tooth with plastics to remove areas where food and bacteria can grow and cause fresh damage. Cost is based on the severity of overall dental decay in the mouth and you are charged in proportion to that measurement. A course of such treatment will typically cost less than £100 where four teeth are mildly infected, about £300 to £400 where some are badly infected and several others are mildly infected, and in very severe cases over £1000. These are comparable with the cost of traditional fillings, but without the need for injections and pain free treatment.

QUESTION: I am pregnant, is it safe to have this treatment during pregnancy?

ANSWER: Yes. The treatment is totally safe.

QUESTION: I have a very painful tooth and am terrified of treatment. Can you help me?

ANSWER: HealOzone has been successfully used to deal with very painful teeth, but we cannot be sure that it will help in your case. What we can say is that the treatment will do no harm. An acutely painful tooth will require conventional treatment combined with HealOzone therapy.

QUESTION: Do you include the cost of using HealOzone as part of other treatments?

ANSWER: All conventional fillings and root fillings include the cost of ozone application prior to placing the final filling.

QUESTION: Is there any difference between repairing a tooth conventionally with a filling, and using HealOzone, other than the comfort factors?

ANSWER: The HealOzone treatment allows healing of a tooth in a natural way, whilst a filling can't be described as natural. A fuller explanation is required by describing the decay process.

QUESTION: How long do these new methods, HealOzone and PAD last?

ANSWER: It is rather like asking how long a healed cut lasts. A healed cut doesn't stop further cuts, but if you take appropriate precautions you can avoid them. So a healed tooth remains so as long as you control the causative factors.