The use of ozone in oral health care: a narrative review of current evidence and clinical applications.

Background: Ozone therapy, a clinical application of various ozone forms that is used for its antiseptic techniques, has sparked interest in recent years over its unique antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in the body. Moreover, its ability to work as an antiseptic while avoiding antimicrobial resistance has sparked interest in the dental field as no other antiseptic agent is able to do so. As a triatomic molecule of oxygen (O₃), ozone functions through oxidative mechanisms that disrupt microbial cell walls, inhibit biofilm formation, and modulate host immune responses without contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Types of study reviewed: Peer-reviewed articles published in English, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies, narrative reviews, case series, and case reports were included in the article. Results: This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanisms of ozone as well as the therapeutic efficacy of ozone in clinical applications across multiple dental specialties. Three main delivery modalities (gaseous ozone, ozonated water, and ozonated oils) demonstrate diverse clinical benefits and are discussed in the review. Practical implications: Comparative studies indicate that for some dental applications ozone achieves antimicrobial efficacy comparable to conventional agents such as chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) while exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity.