«Ozone therapy is a simple and painless technique. Thanks to its proven antimicrobial efficacy and its powerful oxidizing capacity, it is recommended to treat numerous pathologies in the dental field. 

Furthermore, due to the fact that it is completely painless, non-invasive, and has no adverse reactions or side effects, ozone therapy is particularly recommended for small children and uncooperative pediatric patients». 

Supporting these arguments is Dr. Maurizio D’Amario, author of the article “Application of Ozone Therapy in Pediatric Dentistry”, published on November 2, 2022 by “Applied Science” in a special issue entitled “New Advances in Clinical Dentistry”:

Together with dr. D’Amario, co-authors of the article are colleagues: Mariachiara Di Carlo, Giuseppe Marzo, Mario Capogreco, of the University of L’Aquila (Dentistry Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences); Lucia Memé, of the Marche Polytechnic University (Department of Odontostomatological Sciences and Specialized Clinics); Giorgio Matarazzo, of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome (Dentistry Unit); Salvatore Massimo Natale, Independent Researcher (Rome).

Graduated with honors in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics in 2003, dr. Maurizio D’Amario is Adjunct Professor (Conservative Dentistry II) at the Master’s Degree Course in Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics at the University of L’Aquila, and Coordinator of the Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics Operative Unit at the MESVA Department, Clinic Dentistry, of the University of L’Aquila.

Author of more than 80 publications in national and international journals, Dr. D’Amario works as a freelancer in L’Aquila, mainly dealing with endodontics, aesthetic restorative and adhesive prosthetics.

To better understand the importance of ozone therapy in the dental field, “Orbisphera” interviewed him.

It is a review study of the most recent literature in the field of dentistry, and in particular in the field of pedodontics, i.e. the specialized branch that deals with the care of the oral cavity of young patients. The article explores the fields of application of ozone therapy in pediatric dentistry and suggests some possible developments for future studies.

Carious pathology is very frequent in children and, if it is not treated in time, it can cause negative consequences on chewing, language and the quality of life of the young patients and their families.

Fortunately, attention to the early care of dairy teeth has grown significantly in recent decades. In the past we often heard people say: “It’s not worth treating a baby tooth, sooner or later it will fall out!” But that was wrong thinking, and it could lead to serious problems. On the contrary, the care of milk teeth allows you to maintain correct chewing, avoids the onset of pain and inflammation, and allows normal development and alignment of the definitive teeth.

In this field ozone can be of great help, because it allows an ultra-conservative atraumatic treatment of deciduous teeth affected by caries.

In very young patients (for example under the age of three), or in any case in all small patients who struggle to cooperate, ozone therapy manages to “inactivate” the carious process thanks to its action of inactivation and elimination of pathogens. And this allows the dentist to postpone, even for several years, treatments that require more time and more collaboration.

Ozone has demonstrated antimicrobial, virucidal and disinfectant properties as well as immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic characteristics that promote tissue regeneration.

In addition to the treatment of carious lesions, ozone is very useful for the reduction of dentinal hypersensitivity (our study on the subject will soon be published), for the healing of surgical wounds, for the prevention of post-extraction alveolitis and the reduction of symptoms caused by mouth ulcers, herpes and oral lichen planus, as well as in gingivitis, periodontitis and peri-implantitis.

In deep caries it significantly reduces the phenomenon of post-operative pulp hyperemia and the resulting sensitivity. In indirect capping of deciduous teeth - a technique that involves not removing the last layer of carious dentin above the pulp to avoid endodontic treatments - ozone is able to sterilize this layer and significantly increase the favorable prognosis of the treatment. In hypomineralization of dental tissues (MIH) it reduces sensitivity (in many cases very marked) and promotes remineralization. In sealing it is useful as a pre-treatment of the grooves before applying the sealant.

For my approach to ozone therapy in the clinical and research fields, I have to thank two people.

The first is my study colleague, Dr. Stefania Mauro (as well as my life partner and mother of our girls), who ten years ago motivated me to buy our first medical equipment for ozone therapy, driven by her passion for pediatric patients.

The second person is prof. Mario Capogreco, Director of the School of Specialization in Oral Surgery at the University of L’Aquila, who made me discover the possible uses of ozone in the surgical field, which is why we are currently carrying out various research works in this area.