Dental Cavitations

A Cavitation, simply put, is a cavity in your jawbone. It is commonly found in a site where a tooth was extracted (i.e. Wisdom tooth removal). The underlying jawbone is no longer healthy, often necrotic (dead), and is no longer mineralized. A person with a cavitation essentially has a low-grade infection in the jawbone, and the only way to remedy this infection is to remove the infected tissue through Cavitation surgery. 

Cavitation surgery is straightforward. The infected part of the jawbone is removed via a combination of hand and ultrasonic tools. An incision is made in the gums, the infection is drained, and the necrotic bone is removed. The site is then irrigated with ozone water and ozone gas. Ozone is very effective at disinfecting bacteria, viruses, and mold. Additionally, ozone up regulates the healing of the surrounding tissues. After irrigation, the site is filled with a mineral graft. A mineral graft consists of the minerals needed to build bone, collagen proteins, and the patient's own PRP (platelet rich plasma) which is collected via a blood draw prior to surgery. Finally, a layer of PRF (platelet rich fibrin, essentially a preformed “scab” that promotes healing) is placed on top of the mineral graft and then stitched closed. 

Our protocol involves IV sedation, so the patient comfortably sleeps through the procedure. We also include intravenous Vitamin C, glutathione, Benadryl, and Procaine to combat bacteria, promote detoxification, minimize swelling, and balance the nervous system during the procedure. After the procedure is completed, the patient heals for 10-14 days before the stitches are removed. Additionally, we biopsy a sample of the “sludge” removed from the cavitation site to ensure patients avoid further problems.

Cavitations are often overlooked because they are hard to find and cannot be diagnosed with a traditional X-ray. The only way to diagnose them is to do a biopsy of a suspected site, or more commonly, with a cone beam scan. A cone beam scan is a new and advanced X-ray that builds a 3D image of the jaw, allowing our doctors to find these infections. We own and operate our own cone beam dental scanner and will diagnose existing Cavitations before scheduling their removal.

Cavitations can cause a myriad of health issues. Many of today’s leading naturopaths and functional medicine doctors require you to address underlying issues in your mouth before they accept you as a patient as many underlying health issues are addressed directly by Cavitation surgery. We are the leading clinic in the United States for this procedure, and after 8 years we have mastered the operation. If you would like to learn more about what Cavitations are, how they form, and the health issues they cause, we highly recommend reading this link from The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).

We have a detailed questionnaire to help patients determine whether they are suffering from health problems related to Cavitations.