Abstract
Introduction This case uniquely reports a connection between endodontically infected teeth and systemic disease, and additionally presents ozone therapy as a unique therapy and immune system modulator. It is the world’s frst such reported case and the treatment holds invaluable lessons in assessing the “unknown” causes of autoimmunity and infammation. Additionally, it presents ozone therapy as a most needed unique, non-toxic and powerful anti-infective agent, anti-infammatory and immune modulator.
Case presentation The patient was a Mexican male feld laborer, age 48 years, in infammatory crisis with a confrmed case of dermatomyositis. He had received massive prednisone, and powerful immune suppressing drugs just to function, while disease still raged. I encountered him in the feld in June 2012 with severe muscle pain, weakness, and difuse generalized skin rash, essentially unable to do his work. Creatine kinase peaked at 9293 U/L. History and physical examination fndings caused suspicion of subclinical infections in endodontically treated teeth. This impression was confrmed in subsequent dental evaluation. He fully recovered after dental infections were confrmed and surgically removed, while receiving ozone therapy until all symptoms and laboratory abnormalities normalized.
Conclusion Dental focus of occult infection may be a prime cause/trigger of autoimmune disorders and infammatory disorders, requiring surgical intervention to remove. Ozone therapy, little known in conventional medicine, has been shown in the literature and in this case to be a powerful and safe immune modulator and anti-infective agent. This case has signifcant relevance across the entire spectrum of both medical and dental practice. It also emphasizes the need for individualized assessment and treatment rather than symptomatic pharmacological approaches treating a “disease” rather than the patient. Subclinical dental infection and ozone therapy are reviewed.
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