Introduction

Ozone therapy is one of the alternative medical treatments which helps to increase the amount of oxygen supply to the blood which even leads to better ability to focus and sustain attention. The introduction of ozone, studies show that the direct relation of ozone is toxic. There is some evidence for its effectiveness in specific medical applications. The food and drug administration, prohibited all medical uses of ozone which states that "in any medical condition for which there is no proof or safety and effectiveness."

Ozone therapy has been used in medicine for many years to treat a variety of ailments in the human body. The study of ozone tells us ozone is an unstable triatomic molecule, which is made up of three atoms of oxygen. The best use of ozone is that, its ability to kill bacteria fungi and parasites and even viruses. Ozone therapy is considered as a major treatment modality in Europe, South America, and a number of other countries around the world (Ilankizhai & Devi, 2016). The advancement in medicine as science has developed a lot and has helped in the incorporating knowledge and practising medicine with the help of ozone, which brings about high value for development and progress of humanity (David, Priya, & Devi, 2019; Harsha, Priya, Shah, & Reshmi, 2015). The development of small molecule therapeutics and biologic agents may improve asthma care in the future (Dave & Preetha, 2016). This survey evaluates the knowledge and awareness of ozone therapy among dental practitioners.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among dental practitioners with questionnaires on the knowledge and awareness of ozone therapy. In this online based survey, the questionnaires were distributed to dental practitioners. The study included 51 participants. The survey was created on an online survey planet, Google doc forms and was distributed among dental practitioners.

Results and Discussion

The responses were collected from Google doc forms. In the present study, 45.1% were females, 54.9% of males Among the total population Figure 1, 11.8% were general dentists and 88.2% were dental specialists. The X-axis represents the gender of the participants and, Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.066, p-value-0.797 which is statistically significant. 23.5 were orthodontists, 60.8% prosthodontists, X-axis represents the gender of the participants and, Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is - 6.812, p-value- 0.078 (>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their degree Figure 2, 68.6% do not own a private clinic and 31.4% own a private clinic. X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -1.806 , p-value- 0.179(>0.05) significant. Participants' gender was significant with their specialization Figure 3.

Among the total population, X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -5.419, p-value- 0.144(>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their years of practice Figure 4. 9.8% of the population had 1 to 2 years of experience,11.8% had 2 to 5 years of experience, 21.6% had 5 to 10 years of experience and 56.9% had more than 10 years of experience (Choudhari & Jothipriya, 2016).

In the total population, X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.008 , p-value- 0.929.(>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their knowledge on the use of ozone therapy Figure 5, 74.5% did not know that ozone can be used in dentistry and 25.5% were aware about the uses of ozone therapy (Abigail, 2019). X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -7.743, p-value- 0.052(>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their knowledge on the properties of ozone Figure 6, 3.9% of the population had said that ozone helps in the activation of the immune system, 11.8% said it helps in regeneration, 25.5% said that it has antimicrobial properties and 58.8% had answered all of the above (Shruthi & Preetha, 2018). X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -2.129, p-value- 0.145 (>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their knowledge on ozone that prevents tooth decay Figure 7. 72.5% said that ozone couldn't prevent tooth decay and 27.5% said that ozone could prevent tooth decay. Previous studies have suggested that Ozone has an effect on obesity (Sethu & Devi, 2018). 54.57% were aware of the harmful effects of direct exposure to ozone. X-axis represents the gender of the participants and , Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.158 , p-value- 0.691(>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their knowledge on the harmful effects on the direct exposure to ozone Figure 8. Bilirubin is a highly neurotoxic substance and ozone therapy and ozone can normalise bilirubin levels (Samuel & Devi, 2015). Poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep duration and sleep deprivation are internationally recognized in crucial health concerns (Renuka & Sethu, 2015). Shorter and longer sleep times are more likely to be in poorer overall health and to have been diagnosed with medical conditions. Ozone therapy can help in stimulating restful sleep (Timothy, Devi, & Priya, 2019). 45.3% are not aware of it. 60.4% of the population think that ozone treatment is safe and the minor of 39.6% do not think ozone therapy is safe. X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.686, p-value-0.407 (>0.05) significant. Participants' gender was significant with their knowledge that ozone treatment is safe Figure 9 , (Iyer, Devi, & Priya, 2019). 60.4% of the population were aware of the use of Ozone as a disinfectant and 39.6% do not X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.063, p-value- 0.802(>0.05) significant. Participants gender was significant with their knowledge on ozone used as a disinfectant Figure 10. 47.1% said that ozone has the potential to prevent infections microorganisms in dental plaque and 52.9% do not (Swathy & Sethu, 2015). X-axis represents the gender of the participants and Y-axis represents the number of students who are aware. Chi square value is -0.440 , p-value-0.507 (>0.05) significant. Participants' gender was significant with their knowledge on the potential of ozone in preventing infectious microorganisms in dental plaque Figure 11.

The present study shows that the majority of dental practitioners are well aware of the uses of ozone therapy in dentistry. This may be helpful for those suffering from respiratory problems by supplying surplus oxygen to the lungs. Ozone therapy improves the health and quality of life (Samuel et al., 2015). Some dental practitioners are quite unaware of the effects of Ozone therapy. More knowledge and implementation of ozone therapy help them in better quality and more efficient method of treatment.

Ozone is also a toxic gas with no proof of safety and effectiveness (Lima et al., 2015). Ozone was the first used in healthcare settings to disinfect operating rooms and sterile surgical instruments (Uraz, Karaduman, Isler, Gönen, & Çetiner, 2019). More recent reviews have highlighted the different roles of administration. It may result in different therapeutic and side-effects (Bocci, Zanardi, & Travagli, 2011). Ozone has been suggested for the use in dentistry with preliminary evidence supporting its use (Domb, 2014). It has been argued that peroxides that are generated in cells are used to kill bacteria (Wyatt, 2015).

Conclusion

Ozone therapy can serve as an alternative to conventional antibiotics and disinfectants. This study highlights the knowledge and awareness of ozone therapy among dental practitioners. It has shown that dental practitioners were well aware of the potential use and harmful effects of ozone therapy and its wide array of applications in dentistry.

Funding Support

The authors declare that they have no funding support for this study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for this study.