Clinical Indices Changes with Ozone Treatment of Pit and Fissure Caries.

ABU-NABA’A L*, AL SHORMAN H and LYNCH E. (Oral Health Research Centre, School of Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, NI)

As Ozone continues to be investigated as a pharmaceutical treatment for pit and fissure carious lesions (PFCLs) in a longitudinal controlled clinical trial, this study aimed to quantify changes in clinical indices associated with this treatment.

Methods: 34 non-cavitated occlusal pit and fissure carious lesions in 8 patients were enrolled in this part of this study. After cleaning using the air-abrasive system; Prophyflex 2® (KaVo, Germany), the following were recorded from the lesions: clinical classification (Ekstrand, 1998), the DIAGNOdent® (D) (KaVo, Germany) readings, Texture index (hard, leathery, soft), Colour (normal, yellow, light brown, grey, dark brown, black), frosted enamel (mm), Stained enamel (mm) and Perceived treatment need index (Requiring no intervention, Requiring a pharmaceutical approach but not drilling and filling (D&F) and not preventive resin restoration (PRR), Possibly requiring D&F or PRR and Definitely requiring D&F). 17 lesions were treated with Ozone (HealOzone unit; CurOzone, USA) for 40 seconds and the other 17 were reserved as controls. After 1 & 3 months, the procedure was repeated. The change in the clinical indices values was tested by one sample t test of Log10 recall/ base values.

Results: The lesions in the treatment group showed a significant reduction in texture, frosted enamel and perceived treatment needs indices at 1 and 3 months. There was a trend of the lesions getting darker and there was no significant change in the stained enamel length or Ekstrand clinical index. None of the above changes were significant in the control group in both recalls.

Conclusion: Treating Pits and Fissure Carious Lesions with Ozone significantly produced clinical changes at one and three months that can be detected in a regular dental setting. (Supported by CurOzone, USA).