Patient's Attitude to Treatment of Pit and Fissure Caries with Ozone

H. Al SHORMAN*, L. ABU-NABA'A, E. LYNCH School of Dentistry, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK

Ozone is now being investigated as a pharmaceutical agent for the non-operative management of pit and fissure caries in longitudinal controlled clinical trials.

Aim: This study aims to assess patients' attitude and dental anxiety to this new approach for treating dental caries. Materials and methods: 49 patients participated in this study and received the Ozone treatment (using the HealOzone unit from CurOzone USA). Attitude and dental anxiety were assessed on a 5-point scale questionnaire. Part of the questionnaire was completed before and the second part immediately after the Ozone treatment.

Results: 98% of patients were happy or satisfied with the treatment and 94% would recommend it to a friend or a relative. 2% of patients (n=1) were slightly anxious after the treatment, compared to 4% (n=2) before treatment. These patients reported different degrees of anxiety to conventional treatments (94%, 85%, 82% to fillings, drillings and local anaesthesia respectively). 100% of patients were happy to repeat the treatment if needed and 94% were happy to pay more for it than for conventional treatment 94% were happy or satisfied with the time required for this treatment.

Conclusion: These patients were happy and satisfied with Ozone treatment to treat their dental caries and would be happy to even pay more for this treatment than conventional drilling and filling. Ozone therapy significantly reduces dental anxiety.