Treating Caries in Anxious Children with Ozone: Parents' Attitudes after the First Session

Treating anxious children remains a challenge in pediatric dentistry. Many times the only options are the treatment with sedatives or in general anesthesia which includes high cost, certain risks and a child that will stay anxious. Objective: The goal was to evaluate parents’ attitudes towards the treatment of caries with ozone (Heal Ozone Unit, CurOzone, U.S.A.) in anxious children. Methods: After the first treatment of 20 children from age 2-10 years (which included brushing the teeth, hand excavation (Neos Vanadium Excavator No. 591/3, Hawe Neos Dental, Switzerland), DIAGNOdent measurement (KaVo, Germany) and ozone application), the father and/or mother was questioned about their attitudes toward the ozone treatment. Results: All parents answered the questionnaire but most children were accompanied by their mothers only (90%). Seventy-five per cent of the children were afraid of going to the dentist according to their parents prior to the ozone treatment but this group lost some of their fear and all children were happy to come back to the next appointment. Forty per cent of the parents were afraid that the ozone treatment could be hazardous for their child but all of them were happy that they started the ozone treatment. After the first session 75% of the parents would recommend the ozone treatment to family or friends and would agree to have an ozone treatment again. Eighty per cent of the parents were willing to pay more for the ozone treatment than for conventional „drilling and filling“. Conclusions: After the first session, the treatment with ozone seems to be well accepted by children and by parents and decreases anxiety in children.