Getting a tooth pulled is never fun, and for some people, it carries the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This is when the jawbone doesn’t heal properly after an extraction. MRONJ is primarily associated with the use of bone-modifying agents with antiresorptive and/or antiangiogenic activities, which are administered to cancer and osteometabolic patients
Researchers are looking for ways to improve healing and reduce MRONJ risk. A new study published in Oral Diseases titled “Reduction of MRONJ risk after exodontia by virtue of ozone infiltration: A randomized clinical trial” written by Olga Di Fede and published on May 29, 2024, explores a promising approach: using a gaseous oxygen-ozone mixture after a tooth extraction.
Study shows ozone therapy speeds up healing
The study involved 117 patients (27 male and 90 female) at risk of MRONJ. Half received standard care after a tooth extraction, while the other half got the oxygen-ozone mixture injected into the extraction site. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups.
Significant improvement in wound healing
Postextraction wound healing was assessed using the inflammatory proliferative remodeling wound healing scale. Scores of 0 to 4 indicated poor healing, 5 to 10 indicated acceptable healing, and 11 to 16 suggested excellent healing. During the inflammatory phase (three to five days postintervention), patients in the treatment group exhibited a mean score of 2.00 with a standard deviation of 0.87. On the other hand, patients in the control group had a mean score of 2.49 with a standard deviation of approximately 0.88. Thus the results showed the group with ozone therapy showed significantly faster healing during the critical initial stages of inflammation and tissue building. This suggests ozone might be a game-changer for promoting healthy jaw recovery after tooth removal.
Benefits seen throughout healing process
Not only did the ozone group heal faster initially, but they also continued to show improvement throughout the wound healing process compared to the control group. In the proliferative phase (14 days postintervention), the treatment group achieved a mean score of 4.24 with a standard deviation of 1.51, while the C group had a mean score of 3.70 with a standard deviation of 1.02. This suggests ozone therapy may benefit healing throughout all stages of recovery.
More research needed before widespread use
While these findings are encouraging, the study was conducted on a small group of patients at a single center. Larger, multi-center studies are needed in the future to confirm the benefits of ozone therapy and explore its long-term effects.
Ozone therapy: A potential future tool for dentistry
This research suggests that ozone therapy could be a valuable addition to dental care for people at risk of MRONJ. It has the potential to not only improve healing but also reduce the risk of complications after tooth extractions.