March 29th, 2011
Your smile is one of the first things that people will notice about so it is a good idea to try and keep your smile in good shape so you can be proud of it. Unfortunately, with the passing years, the brilliant shiny white colour that your teeth had in your youth will inevitably fade. What’s more, activities such as smoking, drinking tea, coffee and red wine can lead to them becoming stained.
Thankfully dentists offer a wide variety of treatments and procedures to reverse this and give you back the youthful glint in your teeth. Some of these procedures are all but miraculous and restore teeth to the whitest possible shade of colour. Usually they involve special whitening gel which is applied to the teeth by way of trays which are specially made to fit your uniquely shaped mouth. Then your dentist might use a curing light to ensure an excellent finish.
Teeth whitening kits are also available for purchase in super markets and pharmacies and can be bought over the internet and delivered straight to your door for extra convenience. These procedures can be carried out in your own time but usually involved whitening gel and trays too. They are usually worn when you sleep for a recommended stretch of evenings.
Your Central London dentist will be an expert in all matter relating to the whiteness of your teeth and you should talk to him or her if you are fed up with your discoloured teeth and want to do something about it. There will be an option that is right for you so that you can improve the look of your smile and enjoy the benefits that will bring to your self confidence.
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.
July 20th, 2010
There are many dental problems that can spoil the appearance of the teeth and make people ashamed of their smiles. In some cases this can be the source of real emotional problems that affects self-confidence and self-esteem but there are ways to improve your smile with various cosmetic dentistry treatments.
One of the most effective of these treatments involves having a set of dental veneers fitted. These are thin ceramic shells that fit over the top of the existing teeth restoring the size, colour and shape of damaged teeth. This damage could have occurred as the result of discolouration, worn enamel or even structural damage to the teeth.
The veneers are made of porcelain and will be specially designed to compliment your mouth and smile. Your City of London will construct the veneers according to dental mould or digital x-rays taken at an earlier appointment. Modern fabrication techniques have radically shortened the time it takes to make veneers and the finished product is now of a superior quality.
The veneers are cemented in place using dental bonding, a resin substance that is very hard wearing, adding another layer of protection to the teeth. The ceramic itself is also very tough and will protect the teeth from further damage. You may have seen the incredible effects possible using the latest veneer techniques on one of the many TV makeover shows that populate our screens at the moment.
Porcelain is such a good choice for veneers as it very closely resembles actual tooth enamel even to the point of being slightly transparent. This means that not only will your teeth look and feel great, but they will also look very realistic. Find out more about veneers at your dentist the next time you go for a check up appointment.
May 21st, 2010
Zoom teeth whitening is one of the most up to date whitening products on the market, using a special power lamp to activate treatment for speedier results. Zoom works like most other tooth whitening treatments by applying an active gel to the surface of the teeth to bleach any discoloured areas.
Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dentistry treatment that can really improve the appearance of discoloured and stained teeth. Teeth become stained over time because of foods that we eat and other lifestyle choices. Substances that are particularly bad for the teeth are red wine, coffee and tobacco. These can leave teeth yellow or brown spoiling the appearance of a smile making you seem older. Teeth naturally discolour as we age, so any premature discolouration will have the effect of adding years to your appearance as well as looking unhealthy.
Teeth whitening using Zoom can restore the appearance of discoloured teeth, making the teeth look cleaner and healthier and giving you the confidence that comes from a beautiful smile. Your West London dentist will apply the gel in specially designed trays so that it is in close contact with the teeth. They will also use any necessary safety equipment to keep the soft tissue of the gums and tongue safe.
Some patients may experience some slight sensitivity after treatment but apart from this the process is completely painless. Some patients will notice results immediately but others may require a few treatments, depending on the individual’s teeth. Teeth whitening is one of the most effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry treatments so ask your dentist what it could do for your teeth.
May 4th, 2010
There are many new and amazingly technologically advanced dental treatments being used to treat specific areas of concern with your teeth. However, just like in most other areas of life, sometimes it is the simple things that are really the most effective. This is especially true of cosmetic bonding in dentistry.
The idea is a very simple one. You make up a composite resin to be tooth coloured and then apply it to the teeth to make the necessary improvements before setting it hard with the heat of a dental laser. Cosmetic bonding can be used for a number of different treatments to improve the appearance of the teeth. One of the most common is to cover areas of discolouration on the surface of the teeth. Teeth that are discoloured can make your teeth look unhealthy and you look older, this is because we naturally associate discolouring with the aging process. There are a number of ways to deal with discoloured teeth including teeth whitening and porcelain veneers but whitening can be ineffectual and veneers are often prohibitively expensive. Cosmetic bonding can be spread thinly over any discoloured areas before being set and polished to closely resemble tooth enamel.
Bonding can also be used as material for fillings. This has proven to be a very popular choice with patients because of the aesthetic advantages it has over the traditional silver amalgam fillings. Bonding is also not as controversial as the amalgam fillings, which do contain mercury.
Cosmetic bonding is also used as a cement in a number of other dental procedures such as dental crowns and veneers. Once set hard, it will hold these restorations firmly in place. To find out more about cosmetic bonding and it’s uses, ask a West London dentist at your next appointment.
March 5th, 2010
There are many reasons to opt for a teeth whitening treatment from a City of London dentist. Teeth whitening is one of the safest and most dramatic cosmetic dentistry procedures that can radically alter your appearance. In the past teeth whitening has been very expensive but as more dentists offer the treatment to meet growing demand, it is now possible to have your teeth whitened even if you are on a budget.
Teeth whitening is especially useful for patients with stained or discoloured teeth. Teeth can become discoloured for many reasons. In some cases it can be due to lifestyle choices such as smoking or drinking too much red wine or coffee. But in other cases it may be due to a medical condition or treatment, because of the effects of fluoride or simply because of the age. As we get older our teeth tend to lose their natural colour, which makes whitening teeth have the subconscious effect of making the patient look younger and healthier.
Whitening works by applying an active agent, usually hydrogen peroxide, to the stained surface of the tooth. The peroxide gradually seeps into the enamel that forms the outer surface of the teeth and turns any discoloured areas white. The process will be more effective the longer the peroxide is in contact with the enamel, so longer treatments tend to have more dramatic results.
There are very few safety concerns as long as patients have treatment form a trained dentist. Some over-the-counter products can be dangerous as peroxide can be damaging to soft tissue if it comes into direct contact.
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 18th, 2010
Discoloured or badly stained teeth can be very embarrassing and cause the patient to be very anxious and self-conscious about their appearance. It can make people very reluctant to open their mouths or smile in public and be the underlying cause of self-esteem issues and even depression. But with modern cosmetic dentistry there is a solution to having discoloured teeth.
Teeth whitening has existed for many years but in the past has been hit and miss at best and often prohibitively expensive. But as more and more dentists offer the treatment and more patients use it the price is dropping and the treatment becoming more available. New whitening treatments are hitting the market each year, each promising new and improved whitening that takes less time and yields better results.
West London dentists offer a variety of whitening treatments to suit all budgets and time considerations. These range form short one-hour treatments in surgery to two or even three week concentrated procedures involving take home trays to be worn at night. The active ingredient in teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide and it works by gradually penetrating the enamel and staining any discoloured areas. Any patches of enamel that have been stained or discoloured are then turned the same colour as the rest of the tooth.
Teeth whitening can be one of the most successful and dramatic cosmetic dentistry treatments, capable of completely transforming the teeth and restoring the self-confidence of the patient. If you suffer from discolouration or staining, ask your dentist about teeth whitening and really give yourself something to smile about.
December 11th, 2009
Teeth whitening is one of the most effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures and has been popularised recently by massive exposure of its benefits on television and in other media. We’ve all seen the makeover shows where even the most discoloured teeth are restored to a bright white colour and the dramatic effect this can have on a person’s appearance. This is almost certainly because teeth naturally discolour as we get older, so having whiter teeth is an instant way of looking younger and healthier.
There are several leading brands of teeth whitening treatment on the market, each with different treatment styles and benefits to best suit your particular condition and lifestyle. Two of the most popular systems are Zoom and Enlighten, each promising whiter teeth by up to ten shades with treatment in-surgery and with specially prepared less-concentrated take-home trays. West London dentists always recommend that you have whitening carried out by a trained dentist as many whitening kits available from the internet can cause damage to soft tissue, such as the lips and gums, if not correctly applied.
Whitening is usually effective for all patients but may take slightly longer for some people than others. This is simply because we all have an individual tooth colour and consistency and some teeth are more receptive to bleaching than others. Visible whitening results can usually be seen in all patients between a few days and a few weeks of treatment.
Whitening works by bleaching the stained enamel with an active agent, usually hydrogen peroxide. When activated, the peroxide releases oxygen into the enamel which begins to turn any discoloured patches white. Once bleached white, the enamel can stay white for up to three years helping you to have a younger looking and healthier smile.
December 10th, 2009
Wafer-thin porcelain veneers are one of cosmetic dentistry’s more recent inventions. The veneers are bonded onto the front of existing teeth with composite resin to restore the appearance of cracked, chipped or badly discoloured teeth. They are rapidly becoming one of the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments with Central London dentists because of the stunning results they produce and the incredible speed and minimal fuss of treatment.
The science behind veneers is quite simple. Although the porcelain veneer itself is quite brittle, when bonded onto the surface of the tooth it becomes incredibly strong. Just like if you tried to snap one twig it would be simple but if you tried to snap twenty bound together it becomes almost impossible. The veneers are bonded using tooth coloured dental bonding, a substance that has been used for many years by dentists to repair damaged teeth and fill dental cavities. The bonding firmly secures the veneer and also adds another layer of protection to the tooth underneath.
Porcelain veneers have several very important advantages. Firstly, they appear very life-like as porcelain is very similar to tooth enamel with its slightly translucent appearance. Secondly, porcelain veneers resist staining because its surface is ceramic, like glass.
Veneers are increasingly being made using the latest computer aided technology, which has significantly reduced manufacturing time. Each veneer can now be made in as little as six minutes and fitted in only a little longer. It is possible to fix a whole dental arc of veneers in only one appointment, meaning you could have a brand new, healthy looking smile in just one afternoon with no pain and no fuss
