July 4th, 2010
City of London dentists are always looking to use new technology to improve the standard of dental treatment. New devices and tools are being developed all the time aiming to make treatment more effective and efficient, not to mention more comfortable for the patient. One of the most incredible new dentistry tools to have been developed is Cerec. This is a revolutionary new system of making dental crowns, veneers and inlays that is set to change the face of dentistry.
Cerec works by using the power of 3D imaging and digital x-rays. These allow the dentist and instant view of the patient’s teeth in three dimensions. The image can be saved and is very accurate. This allows the dentist to design a new dental restoration on the computer with a great degree of accuracy. But here comes the really clever bit. Once happy with the design, the dentist can then send this information to a milling machine that is linked to the computer. This then sculpts the new restoration from a singe piece of porcelain. This process can take as little as six minutes per tooth and the resulting crown or veneer is perfectly accurate and sized and ready to be fitted into the mouth. The dentist can then fix the crown or veneer in the normal way using dental bonding.
This whole process can be achieved in little more than an hour meaning dental restorations, which used to take up to two weeks from start to finish can now be achieved in just one appointment. As you can see this is quite an amazing advancement in the field of dentistry and one which you too can now experience at your City of London dentist.
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.
April 15th, 2010
Teeth can be damaged in many ways. Chips, cracks and breaks can occur as the result of sporting injury, motor vehicle accidents or from any other kind of head trauma. Broken teeth can be very painful and also expose the sensitive inside parts of the tooth to the risk of infection and disease. Teeth can also be damaged by dental decay and enamel erosion. This again leaves them vulnerable to attack from disease, which could eventually lead to tooth loss. When teeth are damaged in this way it is necessary to protect them from further injury and also to restore the cosmetic appearance.
One of the oldest and most effective ways of protecting teeth is to fit a dental crown over the top. A dental crown is a ceramic or metal and ceramic cap that is designed to fit over the damaged tooth, covering all parts of the tooth above the gum line to act as a barrier to further damage. A Central London dentist will first need to remove some of the existing enamel so that the crown can fit comfortably over the top. The crown, which will have been made in laboratory conditions to be the same size and shape as the original tooth, will then be cemented over the top using composite bonding.
Crowns are made from metal and ceramic as these are very versatile and strong materials. Ceramics such as porcelain also have a very similar appearance to tooth enamel, giving an improved aesthetic appearance. Once firmly in place the crown will perform all the functions of the original tooth.
Crowns are also used after certain dental surgeries and treatments to add a dimension of protection to the teeth. If dental decay has causes significant damage that a filling is not sufficient to protect the tooth, then a crown may be used to offer greater protection. Crowns are also used after root canal treatments to prevent further infection
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 2nd, 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 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 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.
December 6th, 2009
Dental crowns, also commonly known as dental caps, are a form of dental restoration cemented to damaged teeth to encase them and protect them from further damage and improve their cosmetic appearance. The crown will fully cover the whole of the tooth protruding above the gum to offer complete protection form any further damage. In this sense they differ from other restorative measures such as veneers and fillings which only cover a certain portion of the tooth. Crowns are usually made from porcelain, metal or a combination of the two. Although patients with a more expensive taste may opt to have a gold or silver crown fitted.
There are many reasons why a dentist will fit a dental crown but the most common include to increase the strength of a damaged tooth; to restore the original shape of a tooth and; to improve the cosmetic or aesthetic appearance of a tooth. When a tooth has been cracked or fractured it can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort and can expose the sensitive inside to various stimuli. A London W1 dentist would therefore need to apply a crown to protect the central nerve of the tooth and restore the shape and strength of the original. Crowns are increasingly being made using the benefits of computer technology, which is able to sculpt a perfectly sized and shaped crown in as little as six-minutes from a single piece of porcelain. This new technology means that dental crowns will have little if any affect on the appearance of the teeth.
The application process of a crown does involve the removal of some enamel to allow the crown to fit over the tooth without being too big in the mouth. This does mean that all crowns are permanent but they are only ever used if the situation absolutely demands it. A dental crown can be an incredibly useful and strong way to rebuild a tooth and can last for up to twenty years if properly maintained.
November 15th, 2009
A dental crown is a ceramic cap that is cemented over an existing tooth to repair damage or to restore its cosmetic appearance. It is most commonly used to cap teeth that have been filled or to protect teeth broken as the result of a head trauma.
There are many ways a tooth can be damaged. Sporting injuries account for up to 50 per cent of dental injuries. Dentists advise wearing a mouth guard when playing any sport with a high level of physical contact or that can involve any kind of collision. However it is still common for teeth to be chipped, cracked or broken when playing sport. Teeth are also commonly damaged in motor vehicle accidents or from simply accidentally chewing on hard food. Damage to teeth will initially be repaired with composite dental bonding. This tooth coloured resin is used to fill cracks and repair chips but it can itself be susceptible to damage. Dentists therefore often use a dental crown to sit over the damaged tooth to protect it from further injury.
Dental crowns are also used to protect teeth that have had cavity fillings. This is especially true of teeth with large cavities as dental bonding, used as a filling material, is weaker in large areas. Crowns are also used to protect teeth that have been subject to a root canal procedure. This is when an infected tooth has been hollowed to remove the infection. A dental crown is the last step in a complex process designed to preserve the functionality of the patient’s original tooth and prevent extraction.
Dental crowns are commonly manufactured from porcelain, a type of ceramic with a similar consistency and appearance to tooth enamel. Modern crowns are increasingly fabricated using the latest computer-aided technology. Using 3D imaging and digital x-rays dentists can construct images of the patients’ teeth on a computer. They can then use this information to manufacture a dental crown by milling it from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This new technology has reduced treatment time for patients and improved the accuracy of treatment.
Dental crowns are very versatile and useful dental tools that can prevent the need for further treatment. Patients with damaged teeth should make an appointment with a City of London dentist to discuss the benefits of dental crowns.
November 9th, 2009
A dental crown is a ceramic cap that is placed over the top of an existing damaged tooth to restore its cosmetic appearance and preserve its structural integrity. Teeth are commonly damaged from head traumas received as the result of sporting injury or other accident. Teeth can also be damaged by dental decay and the resulting treatment, which may need securing with a crown.
In the past, the manufacturing process involved in producing a dental crown was very lengthy and complex. A dentist would need to take several dental moulds and x-rays. These mould and x-rays would need casting and developing to give the dentist a platform to make the crown. This would then take place in a laboratory over several days or even weeks.
There is now a new technology that allows for design and production of dental crowns and veneers in a fraction of this time. The introduction of CEREC technology in recent years has seen the increased use of computer-aided technology to revolutionise this process and even modern dentistry as a whole. CEREC stands for CERamic REconstruction and is a cutting edge system using the latest in 3D imaging and digital x-rays. Using these tools the dentist can create an exact three-dimensional image of the patient’s mouth on a computer. They can then use this image to design a crown, veneer or ceramic filling to microscopic degrees of accuracy. When satisfied they can then instruct the computer guided milling machine to sculpt the crown from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. In fact the whole process from imaging to installation can be accomplished in little over an hour.
This technology represents the future of dentistry. Waiting times, appointment times and treatment quality have all improved as a result of CEREC. The porcelain can even be chosen to most closely match the colour of the patients existing teeth such is the level of detail involved in the treatment.
Patients requiring dental crowns for damaged teeth or who are looking to improve previous dental work should make an appointment to see a Central London dentist and ask about CEREC. The future of dentistry has arrived and is available to give you the best possible standards of dental care.
April 4th, 2009
If you are in a car accident, or suffer some other type of injury, one or more of your teeth may fracture. In these situations, it is very important to see your dentist as quickly as possible. For example, a dentist in the City of London can repair the tooth, as well as help protect it from bacteria and other pathogens that will lead to early decay. Typically, the sooner you have a tooth fracture taken care of, the better chance you will have of saving the tooth.Depending on the depth and size of the fracture, your dentist may have to clean each part of the tooth, and then bring it back into alignment. From there, your dentist will place a clamp on the tooth, and then create a groove on each side. At this stage, the dentist will look to apply a bonding agent that will prevent the tooth from falling apart. You may also need to have an amalgam filling. If the tooth is located in the front of your mouth, you may also want to have a veneer installed later on for aesthetic purposes.
While the events that can lead to a tooth fracture tend to be traumatic, there is no need to lose the affected tooth. Today, your City of London dentist can repair the fracture, and also ensure that you will be able to use the tooth for chewing and biting. Even if the fracture is fairly complicated, your dentist may still be able to place a crown over the tooth, or use fillings to restore it to a healthy condition. That said, the longer you wait to treat a tooth fracture, the greater chance you will run of losing the tooth. This is especially important to consider if the fracture exists below the gum line, or it affects the roots.
