August 10th, 2010
If you are concerned about your worn, discoloured or chipped teeth and think they could be spoiling your appearance, there are many cosmetic dentistry procedures you could have performed to have them repaired and restored. However, probably the most impressive are porcelain veneers. These thin ceramic caps are placed over the top of the existing teeth to completely restore their appearance and make them look even, white and healthy.
Veneers have been used for many years as a restorative dental tool but in the last few years the technology has really improved. Modern veneers are incredibly thin, often meaning that no otherwise healthy enamel has to be removed before they are fitted. Some are only as thick as a contact lens and are easily cemented over the top of the teeth with composite resin bonding.
Other new technology such as Cerec has greatly reduced the amount of time needed to manufacture and design veneers which means you could have your veneers in as little as two appointments. Veneers are capable of lasting up to twenty years if they are properly maintained with brushing and flossing.
City of London dentist are fully trained in the design and fitting of dental veneers. A well-crafted set will truly rejuvenate the appearance of a smile as well as your overall appearance. White, healthy looking teeth are subconsciously associated with youth so you could take years off your age without having to go anywhere near a surgeons knife. Ask your dentist to find out more about the possibilities of porcelain veneers at your next appointment.
June 8th, 2010
Tooth decay and gum disease can cause significant damage to the teeth that can be very painful and unpleasant. When decay gets to a certain point, it can no longer be treated with improved cleaning and a dental filling. If the tooth has been sufficiently damaged it will need further protection in the shape of a dental crown. The same is also true of a tooth that has been damaged as the result of a dental trauma. Chips or cracks that cannot be repaired with dental bonding will need to be protected with a dental crown.
Dental crowns are ceramic or metal (or both) caps that fit over the whole part of the tooth that protrudes above the gum. It is the cemented in place and in this way protects the tooth from further damage and attack form plaque and bacteria. Dental crowns have been used for many years to protect the teeth. They last between ten and twenty years depending on how well they are cared for.
The manufacture of dental crowns used to involve taking several dental moulds and x-rays and then gradually building it up out of layers of porcelain. Some dentists still use this method but new technology called Cerec uses digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging to allow a computer-guided mill to sculpt the new crown in a matter of minutes. This new technology has also improved the accuracy of treatment as well as speeding up treatment times for all patients. Ask a London W1 dentist for more information about dental crowns.
Dental crowns can also be used to protect teeth after root canal treatments. The dentist will apply the crown to protect the tooth from becoming infected again and against further damage due to a weakening of tooth structure.
March 4th, 2010
A dental crown is a simple alternative to more complicated dental solutions, says a W1 London dentist. A crown is exactly that in every sense of the word, and we all know that a crown, like wallpaper, can cover up a multitude of sins. Problems that a crown can solve range from discoloured, chipped, cracked and misaligned teeth, although it isn’t always the answer in some extreme cases, it is in most. The procedure is as simple as the solution itself, and involves, in most cases, just 2 visits to the dentist. On the first the dentist will assess if the damaged tooth can be repaired by a crown, if it can he will then take a series of photographs and do some simple tests, all of which are completely painless. The crown is made for that specific tooth, and that specific problem whatever it is. A colouration test is done to make sure that the crown will fit in naturally with the surrounding teeth. When the crown is ready to be fitted the dentist will numb the area and the tooth, then he will grind down the front of the tooth, they will take just enough off so that the thickness of the crown will fit on perfectly to keep the height. The crown is simply then cemented to the tooth and that’s it. Maintenance is simple and you can clean the crown as you do the other teeth. A crown mustn’t be confused with a veneer which is a completely different thing altogether, a veneer is a much thinner version and is more a cosmetic device, where as a crown will solve a lot more serious problems and last a lot longer. Most dental surgeries provide this service, and some consultations are free.
February 10th, 2010
In the medical professional they have surgeons and cosmetic surgeons, most people know the difference. In dentistry the difference is the same, there are cosmetic dentists and there are dentists. However, in this profession there is a third category which incorporates the skills of both a conventional dentist and a cosmetic dentist; according to a City of London dentist. These dentists will treat you for the usual problems we have with our teeth, but they can also use their artistic skills to embrace cosmetic dentistry as well. This usually comes in the manner of teeth whitening, and covering up defects on our teeth such as a gap or a chipped tooth. Veneers are a widely used method that many dentists now embrace to give their patients the smile they always wanted, this can also have a psychological affect on the patient and greatly increase their confidence. A dentist will not do cosmetic surgery just for the sake of it; dentists are a breed of professionals that pride themselves on helping their patients to keep their teeth in good working order. When the patient is into a routine of good oral hygiene care, a dentist will do what they can to improve any defects to assist the patient’s welfare. This will include improvement of a discoloured tooth, a chipped or misaligned tooth, and a veneer is a quick and easy way of accomplishing this. It is exactly what it says on the tin, it is a thin artificial tooth piece that fits over the rogue tooth in the same way a false nail does. This is what a smile makeover is, although it can also come in the form of teeth whitening using a bleaching agent and an ultra violet light. This method of smile makeover is usually carried out in salons by contract technicians as there is no need to pre-prep the tooth as a veneer requires. The veneer is simply cemented on a skimmed tooth.
January 23rd, 2010
Almost everyone has a veneer in their house, usually in the form of a piece of furniture. It is a sliver of natural wood that is fitted and polished over less inferior woods to make it appear as if the whole piece is solid. That is exactly what a tooth veneer is as well says a London W1 dentist, usually a patient will consult their dentist to see if a veneer will cure a problem they have with a tooth or a whole row in some cases. These problems can be anything from a discoloured tooth to a misshapen or even chipped one. The dentist will examine the tooth and see if it is a good candidate for a veneer, they may recommend a crown instead. If the patient is a good candidate then a mould is made of the tooth, from this the veneer is sculptured and coloured to fit over the problem tooth, and also to fit in colour wise with the other teeth. A fitting is then done to make sure all is fine, and some fine tuning may be necessary to make the veneer more natural. Then the dentist is ready to fit it, they will skim a top layer of enamel off the offending tooth and simply cement the veneer onto the tooth. If the veneer becomes damaged by a crack or chip, then it is easily replaced as it can not be repaired in most cases. The cost has come done a lot in recent years with more people opting for this simple solution to dental problems. Little or no discomfort is felt either during or after the procedure, the patient may feel a little strange with the new tooth, so to speak, but the mouth will generally get used to it after a few days, all in all a simple and quick solution to what used to be a major dental problem.
January 12th, 2010
If you have a dental emergency then you are well advised to have numbers to hand. Dentists are the same as a G.P. in certain respects regarding out of hours and in hour’s emergencies. Making sure you have numbers on your mobile as well as in your home phone address book, is a good start. You would also be well advised to know before hand where the surgery is, if you have a Sat-Nav then get the address post code pre-programmed in. If not then go online to AA route planner and print off the route, its very simple and will save you panicking when you or a friend are in pain. Using some common sense will alleviate the stress that many dentists have to also contend with when dealing with an emergency. The London W1 dentist knows only too well the added pressure of treating a patient who is stressed out by getting an appointment, and then getting to the surgery. An emergency can be anything from a toothache to a seriously chipped tooth, for a toothache there are some very old remedies available to hand in every kitchen. First wash your mouth out with warm water and remove any food lodged around the tooth by flossing. If you have any Oil of Clover then apply it to the tooth using a baby bud, this will usually do the trick temporarily. If you don’t have that then improvise by mixing some salt and pepper together into a paste, with a drop of water, again apply it to the tooth using a baby bud or your small finger. The heat produced will alleviate the pain. Chipped teeth are a different matter, and will often need immediate attention by a dentist to avoid more expensive treatment later on.
January 6th, 2010
A dental crown is a perfect way to transform our teeth, especially when they have become discoloured through food and drink intake, red wine being a big contributor to this condition. Other damage to teeth that could be solved by a crown can be more severe, and they will often save the tooth making it unnecessary for an implants or a false plate. Cracked teeth are difficult to see without the aid of a magnifying glass, so often we suffer from slight discomfort and risk more severe damage because of it. A crown over the tooth will not only make the tooth look like new, it will hold a crack in check, this also applies to a chipped, or in some cases, a misshapen tooth. Think of it like decorating a room, we strip off the old paper and it reveals old holes, cracks and bad repairs. We rub down the lumps, we fill the holes and wipe over the cracks. Then we line it and put on the final, smooth top paper. A dentist in LondonW1 explained that a crown placement procedure isn’t that complicated, but the comparison is good and the end result is the same. After some preparation work to fix the crown permanently to the tooth, the dentist will apply a clean coat of cement which not only holds the crowns in place, but will also go some way to preventing more damage to a cracked or chipped tooth. The new crown can be used in the same way as all your other teeth, and the care of it will be pretty much the same. If a crown becomes loose or falls out then a dentist can easily place it back, and without too much drama. Remember to keep it in some clean water, but don’t scrub it.
November 16th, 2009
Temporomandibular disorder, more commonly know as TMJ, affects the tempromandibular joint, a part of the head that includes the hinge of the lower jaw and the temporal bone of the skull below the ear. This is the area of the head that controls chewing, biting and all other movements of the jaw. This means that TMJ can cause pain when carrying out the simplest of activity such as eating and talking. This pain can range from mild to severe and intermittent to constant.
It was commonly though that TMJ was caused by emotional or psychological disorders such as stress, but common opinion seems to favour a wider variety of causes. One of the most common causes is a problem affecting the bite. This is the way the top and bottom teeth sit together and can be caused by any alterations caused in either dental arc. For example, a knocked out or chipped tooth could alter the way the teeth sit together. This can cause muscular problems in the areas around the jawbone which lead to TMJ. In other cases it is believed that TMJ is caused by a head trauma such as a sudden jolt. This can cause misalignment of the joint that affects its movement.
Unfortunately, the most common symptom for TMJ is pain. Diagnosis usually follows a period of pain in the patient, which can spread to the neck and shoulders. The dentist will conduct a clench test, which sees whether the teeth and jaw hurt when the top and bottom teeth are clenched together. If diagnosed, the dentist will make moulds of the teeth and bite and mount them on an instrument called an articulator. This mimics the movement of the jaw so that the dentist can ascertain what is causing the pain.
Temporary relief can be had from TMJ by taking over-the-counter pain medication. Hot and cold packs also provide some relief from muscular pain. The dentist may also advise preventative measures such as limiting jaw movement and staying away from crunchy or chewy foods.
Long-term treatments are usually in the form of physical therapy and medication, although it is increasingly being found that dental appliances such as a mouth guard or splint can be used to improve bite and limit the causes of TMJ.
If you are experiencing unexplained pain in the jaw, head or neck, make an appointment to see a London W1 dentist. There is an end to this painful condition with the correct diagnosis and treatment form a trained dentist.
October 17th, 2009
Some of the most common dental concerns that dentists are faced with are chipped, cracked or broken teeth. These are commonly caused by sporting injuries, head traumas or from biting something hard and can be very painful if not properly treated. The first option to fix the tooth is to try and use composite dental bonding. This involves making a tooth coloured resin paste and sculpting it to the tooth to create the desired shape. It is then set firm using the intense heat of a laser. Dental bonding is ideal for fixing small cracks and chips and is very durable. However, on certain occasions the damage is too great to repair or the injury has compromised the structural integrity of the tooth. In these cases, the dentist will need to manufacture and fit a durable dental crown in order to save the tooth.
Dental crowns can also be used to repair teeth damaged by tooth decay. If a tooth’s enamel has been eroded away and infection has spread to its root, its structural integrity may be severely damaged. Once a root canal procedure has been used to clear up the infection, to protect the tooth from further cracking or breaking completely, the dentist may use a dental crown. This also has the benefit of restoring the cosmetic appearance of the tooth.
Toady’s dental crowns are manufactured using CAD/CAM technology. This stands for computer aided design/computer aided manufacture and means that dentists now use digital x-rays and 3D imaging to build an exact replica of a patient’s teeth. Using the 3D image they can design the crown to microscopic levels of accuracy. Once happy with the projection, the dentist can begin the manufacturing process. This involves a computer guided milling device that sculpts the crown from a single piece of porcelain. By removing the need for dental moulds and x-ray developing the whole design and manufacture process can be achieved in one appointment, a vast improvement on the weeks the procedure used to take from start to finish
A dental crown is a lifelike and sturdy way to protect a tooth that may otherwise have been lost and can last for over ten years if properly looked after. If you are suffering from a cracked or damaged tooth visit a London W1 dentist fro a consultation.
