Antimicrobial Effect of HealOzone in Class I Caries Lesions

Objectives: Ozone is currently being used in management of dental caries as an alternative to drilling and filling. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of ozone (HealOzone, KaVo, Germany) treatment on bacterial presence after Class I caries lesion preparation before adhesive restoration. Methods: 22 teeth with Class I caries lesions were first cleaned (Prophyflex 2, KaVo, Germany) and scanned with Diagnodent device (KaVo, Germany) to determine the degree of caries lesion. Lesions that were chosen required conventional drilling and filling (Diagnodent reading of at least 30). After removing carious dentin with sterile burr, the dentine surface was carefully brushed with microbrush previously sterilized in plasma sterilizer (Sterrad ® 200, Johnson&Johnson, USA). Each cavity was treated with HealOzone from 10 to 40 seconds depending on the Diagnodent readings. The cavity was brushed again and specimens were transported in transport media before plating on specific bacteriologic media prepared. Results: From 22 specimens taken before ozone treatment 19 aerobic and 5 anaerobic bacterial cultures were isolated. From 22 specimens taken after the ozone treatment, 21 specimen (95.45 %) revealed significant reduction of microorganisms; 12 specimens (aerobic bacteria) (57.14%) were sterile and 20 specimens (anaerobic bacteria) (95.23 %) were sterile. Conclusion: From the results obtained it can be concluded that after drilling and filling many microorganisms persist in the Class I cavity and that treatment with ozone could be useful for their reduction before placing adhesive restoration.