July 3rd, 2010
Grinding your teeth during sleep, also known a bruxism, could be very damaging to your enamel, weakening it to the point that it becomes a serious dental concern. There are many reasons why bruxism occurs. One of the main causes is stress but it can also be linked to a misaligned bite. This causes a tension in the jaw muscles, which is released by subconscious grinding.
Constant teeth grinding will eventually begin to loosen and weaken tooth enamel. This is the hard protective coating around the outside of your teeth. Tooth enamel does not grow back so once it is gone, it is gone forever. Enamel is the main defence against tooth decay, acting as a barrier against plaque and bacterial acid which threatens the sensitive inner parts of the teeth. If the enamel is thinned by grinding, it takes far less bacteria and plaque to start causing serious tooth decay. This could result in great pain and the need for expensive dental treatment.
Misalignment of the jaw, leading to bite complications can often be caused by stress or even a physical trauma. In other cases it is just the result of a genetic predisposition. In most cases, your City of London dentist maybe able to take steps to realign the jaw but at the very least they could provide you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth during teeth. This appliance, usually made of rubber or other absorbent material, prevents the teeth from grinding against each other and eroding the enamel.
If you or your child suffer from grinding teeth, make an appointment to see your dentist. They will be able to repair any damage caused by bruxism and provide you with the means to stop any further damage.
September 19th, 2009
Sucrose substitutes are food additives that replicate the sweetness of normal table sugar (sucrose) in food. The substitutes are usually compounds which have a sweetness intensity far greater than normal sugar, so the amount needed to sweeten food products is greatly reduced. Some sucrose substitutes are naturally occurring while some others are artificially produced.
The primary uses for sucrose substitutes are to aid in weight loss and to help prevent dental cavities. They are more tooth friendly because they are not fermented by the microflora of the dental plaque. The World Health Organisation has recommended the use of these sugar substitutes in the production of sweet food because of the obvious health benefits.
A high intake of sucrose can cause high levels of acids to develop in the mouth which causes a change in the natural pH. This acidic state encourages the development of plaque which attacks and breaks down tooth enamel, the protective coating of the teeth. Once the enamel has been breeched the bacteria continues to attack the tooth causing cavities to develop that will need dental treatment to prevent further infection.
A Central London dentist will be able to inform you which sucrose substitutes are the most beneficial to the teeth and regular check ups with them will help prevent the spread of cavities and tooth decay.
September 6th, 2008
Porcelain veneers are now available at our Central London Dental Clinic. There are many uses for porcelain veneers in dentistry including severely discoloured, worn or damaged teeth. Porcelain veneers, are thin porcelain coverings fabricated in the dental laboratory specifically for a specific patient and tooth, and give excellent cosmetics in the right situation. Tooth preparation for porcelain veneers involve minimal to moderate removal of tooth enamel (the outer shell of the tooth), and when indicated the dentin tooth layer; depending on each individual situation.
Two to three visits are usually required to have the porcelain veneers made. A smile analysis is usually performed using a camera, and stone models of your teeth. The proposed final mock up of your teeth are usually performed via computer analysis or white dental wax being placed on the models of your teeth. Alterations to your proposed smile should be discussed and made with your dentist during this visit. Once you and your dentist have agreed on the result that can be obtained, your teeth are anaesthetised and portions removed using a diamond bur. Temporary acrylic or composite shells are fabricated by the dentist or his in-house laboratory to prevent tooth sensitively and shifting. Impressions are then made, and the stone models are sent to a laboratory that specialises in porcelain veneer fabrication. At the following visit, the porcelain veneers will be bonded in place. When the porcelain veneers are delivered to your dental office, they will appear very delicate. However, once securely bonded into place, they become much more rugged.
The cosmetic result depends both upon the dental laboratory’s and your dentist’s artistic natures. The bonding materials, and other intrinsic colouring, make a world of difference in certain cases. It is helpful to have a dentist that has a lot of experience with porcelain veneers!
