Dental Procedures at Green Apple
Ozone Gas
Ozone gas can be used for well-behaved children who can sit on their own for the length of the ozone application treatment. The dentist applies the gas to surfaces where decay has not yet damaged the dentin. However, this is not recommended for children who are fidgety or uncooperative, as there is a risk of pure ozone inhalation. If ozone is accidentally inhaled, severe irritation occurs resulting in cough for more than 30 minutes, and difficulty breathing.
Because we have dental ozone available, we can sometimes prevent a tooth from needing a pulpotomy or baby root canal, and perform an indirect pulp cap (IPC) instead. This is because ozone therapy helps us to remove harmful bacteria located close to the nerve. We can then place a sealer over the area to stimulate secondary dentin formation. In cases of advanced decay, however, a pulpotomy is the only option to save a primary tooth until it is ready to fall out naturally.
When decayed teeth still have enough healthy tooth structure, white composite resin fillings can be placed, sometimes in combination with an IPC, instead of a crown. We try to restore teeth in this biocompatible way rather than with the standard pulpotomy and crown.
Again, this is not always possible, but it is preferred.
Biocompatibility Testing
Biocompatibility testing can be done to determine which dental materials are most suitable for a person’s unique biochemistry. For this, we rely on Biocomp Labs, whose serum test is the most comprehensive and known for their gold standard in compatibility testing. There are some limitations to this, however. For example, if a child is too young and thus has not been exposed to everything an adult has, the test results may not be as robust.
Ozone Insufflation
Ozone insufflation of gum pockets: for patients with moderate to high amounts of pathogenic bacteria in the gum pockets or around their teeth, several applications are done using custom-made trays. In addition an at-home irrigation protocol may be prescribed, which can also help reduce levels of harmful bacteria.
Prolozone Therapy
This therapy is used for teens suffering from TMJ problems that cause headaches, jaw muscle tenderness, neck tightness, and pain. Combining an anesthetic, ozone, and a homeopathic cocktail delivered through a series of injections. Prolozone therapy can help patients live in a pain-free state by reducing inflammation and stimulating healing. Dr. Evy is a living testimony of the benefits of this therapy. When she was suffering from neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, and muscle tightness and tenderness, which was not alleviated by over-the-counter pain relievers, she turned to dental therapy and found pain relief.
Times When There Are No Alternatives
There are a few procedures for which there are NO alternatives, including nitrous oxide “laughing gas,” IV Sedation and general anesthesia. It is important to understand that these sedation modalities are used to manage the patient’s anxiety and behavior to allow for successful treatment. They are not normally needed for very cooperative kids unless the procedures are surgical.
IV sedation, and general anesthesia are commonly used for uncooperative patients, patients needing moderate to extensive treatment, and/or patients having an infection or abscess present. Usually, this group is formed by children ages five and younger.
Also, when teeth need to be numbed, there is no homeopathic alternative to local anesthetic.
Most orthodontic appliances or braces are not metal-free but are very predictable in correcting crowding, crossbites, narrow or high palate, and other bite problems. Metal-free appliances such as Invisalign and other silicone plastic devices are available and have their own applications with advantages and disadvantages. Dr. Evy will determine at your visit whether a metal-free system is an option for your child, or if fixed metal appliances would be the better option. Fixed appliances have one big advantage in that children will not remove them; thus, the results are predictable.
Additionally, we have yet to find a good metal-free option for space maintainers devices, which are used when a patient has lost a baby tooth prematurely. A space maintainer holds the space for the upcoming permanent tooth, so crowding is prevented in that area.
Zirconia Crowns
This is an alternative to metal crowns. They usually come in different sizes to fit the size of your child’s tooth. Typically a pulpotomy treatment is needed when a zirconia crown is placed on a tooth. The doctor will let you know if the patient is a candidate for zirconia crowns.
Homeopathic Remedies
We encourage the use of homeopathic remedies in addition to any prescriptions given. For post-surgical healing and recovery, we recommend remedies such as arnica Montana, hypericum, prepared oregano oil, prepared clove oil, ozonated oils, herbal rinses, and other medicaments. We can give you specific recommendations while you are at our office.
We offer a caries management protocol to patients with surface decay that can potentially be arrested with dietary modifications. We recommend nutrient-dense/healing-restoring foods, the elimination of processed foods, supplementation, oral probiotics, the application of a remineralizing toothpaste such as MI Paste, etc. This is mostly discussed at your first visit, but sometimes we wait until your second visit (after the removal of decay). Simply stated, we must prioritize putting out the fires and then establishing a healing environment for the teeth. We also recommend for our patients to work with a functional medicine doctor or nutritionist to determine which foods have the most impact on restoring both mouth and body.
Medical referral is often a topic of conversation when severe decay is present to rule out gut dysbiosis contributing to nutrient malabsorption which in turn causes nutritional deficiencies for the teeth resulting in higher risk for decay. Healing the gut is very important for overall dental well-being.
