Disinfection of Dental Instruments Contaminated withStreptococcus mutansUsing Ozonated Water Alone or Combined with Ultrasound

Abstract

Ozone gas diluted in water has been shown to produce significant results in terms of the elimination of microorganisms. Streptococcus mutans is the etiologic agent of dental caries. Methods using water containing ozone and an ultrasonic cleaner were employed for the disinfection of a curette. Streptococcus mutans was grown in a selective medium. The curette was submitted to disinfection by water containing ozone, by ultrasound, and then both techniques were combined. The results show that either method produced a significant microbial reduction, but the efficacy of both methods combined was greater. This method of disinfection proved to be both viable and cheap.

Morphophysiological analysis of the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) exposed to ozonated water: A control strategy

“…Besides the use of bioactive compounds extracted from plants or animals, another research line involves the use of ozone gas, formed by oxygen atoms separated by ultraviolet radiation or high‐voltage electrical discharges and recombined with a dioxygen molecule (O 2 ), resulting in a molecule containing three oxygen atoms (O 3 ) (Majewski, 2012). Studies have demonstrated its action as an antimicrobial agent (Nagayoshi et al ., 2004; Moreira Fonseca et al ., 2015), disinfectant (Lopes, et al ., 2015), water treatment agent (Majewski, 2012), and against agricultural pests such as the beetles Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum (Rozado et al ., 2008). Moreover, a recent study demonstrated that ozonized water could cause damage to the integument of R. sanguineus s.l., and therefore, it should be investigated as a new control strategy (Abreu et al ., 2020).…”