In London, dental bonding is being used on facial tooth surfaces of front teeth to restore carious of damaged teeth, to make teeth look better, and to eliminate spaces between teeth. It can also be used to cover tooth roots that have become exposed due to gum recession. In the majority of cases that use bonding, minimal tooth structure is removed, and sometimes only roughened up, and the teeth don’t have to be numbed. Unless, of course, decay is being removed and the tooth is being bonded afterwards.

Your London dentist will select the appropriate shade and will proceed to bond your tooth/teeth. If your dentist is lightening your teeth with bonding, a lighter shade will be selected to increase the aesthetics of your teeth. You tooth/teeth surface(s) that is to be bonded will be roughened with a diamond bur and the tooth surface will be etched with etching solution or gel. The tooth will then be rinsed and dried, and a liquid unfilled resin will be placed on the tooth with an applicator, and your tooth will be light cured. Your dentist will then placed the filled resin (i.e., bonding material) onto the tooth and shape it with plastic instruments. This material will again be light cured, and a final touch-up and polishing will take place. This procedure can be completed in a relatively short period of time in London, and is not invasive or too expensive. Your dentist and their staff will make sure that you are well versed in the proper care of this bonding material, and will explain all of the do’s and don’ts.

Dental bridges are fixed restorations used to replace missing teeth. This means that they are not removable by the patient. Your London dentist will recommend this as one of your first options to replace your missing teeth if the other teeth in your mouth are stable and in reasonably good health. The different fixed bridges include; traditional bridges, cantilever bridges, and resin-bonded bridges. Your London dentist will review all of these bridges with you, and the one that best suits your dental needs. With bridge work, the surrounding teeth are prepared and are called “teeth abutments” of the bridge, while the missing tooth or teeth to be replaced is/are called the “pontic.” The bridge is made so as to replace the missing tooth or teeth, and to restore optimum function and tooth form that existed prior to losing the tooth or teeth, and/or to improve on this if possible. The “pontic” of the bridge does not contain a root form, and can be fabricated and shaped as desired. There are circumstances that exist where your London dentist may want you to have a sanitary “pontic” to be able to keep your mouth clean. This is usually done in the posterior sections of the mouth that are not visible. A cantilever bridge is when several teeth are prepared next to each other and the missing tooth is replaced with a “pontic” that is not connected to an abutment tooth. A resin-bonded bridge entails much less tooth preparation than the other two bridge types, and is usually used to replace a front tooth.
Your London dentist will collect all of the data and information that they need prior to fabricating a bridge. They will do an oral exam, take radiographs, and study models. Prior to beginning the bridgework, your soft and hard tissues should be in great shape to prevent future problems. Your dentist will equilibrate your bite if necessary to eliminate any adverse interference that may exist. After your teeth are prepared, a temporary bridge will be placed to keep your remaining teeth in place until the bridge is finished and ready for cementation. The bridge may require slight adjustments prior to insertion and your London dentist will do this and cement your finished bridge.

Dental crowns are required for your teeth when your teeth are broken down to the point where a filling or onlay will not suffice. Also called “dental caps,” they cover the entire exposed surface of your tooth. The main reasons that crowns are recommended by your London dentist are that your tooth has excessive decay or has had a root canal, making it more brittle. Crowns can also be made for your teeth for aesthetic reasons, but there are other procedures for aesthetics and crowns are usually the last resort. When placed on your tooth, the dental crown will be the new outer covering of your tooth, and can be fabricated from gold, porcelain fused to gold, or all porcelain. Your London dentist will discuss all types of crowns with you and what types of procedures are involved before beginning the crown process.Your London dentist will use local anaesthesia to properly numb your mouth when performing this procedure, After the decay is removed from the tooth, the outer layer (i.e., enamel) and some of the secondary layer (i.e., dentin) is removed using specially designed dental drills or burs. After your dentist is happy with the preparation, impressions of the tooth and the surrounding teeth are taking with dental putty of other material. Then an opposing impression and a bite registration are taken. A shade is then selected that matches the surrounding teeth. The impressions are given to the dental laboratory, along with the bite registration and instructions. The laboratory then makes your crown. This may take a week or two, so a temporary crown is placed and cemented with temporary cement. When the crown is returned from the laboratory, the dentist places your crown on your tooth, makes the necessary adjustments, and then finally cements the crown onto your tooth.

If you allow dental caries (i.e., decay) to progress so far as to come into close proximity to your tooth pulp or into your tooth pulp, you most likely will require root canal therapy to save this tooth. The tooth’s dental pulp contains numerous tissues and cell types that will require removal if your London dentist decides that this tooth needs a root canal. Bacteria or their end products will cause the pulp of the tooth to die, and the pulp will have to be cleaned out and instrumented properly in order to properly sterilize the tooth’s canals. You may need to receive antibiotics prior to the root canal therapy, depending on whether the tooth can be treated at that time and anesthetised properly. There have been times when the tooth is so infected that the dentist or endodontist has difficulty numbing the tooth. Do not let your tooth infection to get this bad! Seek help as soon as possible!
When performing root canal therapy, your tooth will be anesthetised and the tooth will be isolated from the fluids in your mouth, in order not to contaminate the root canals while they are being cleaning out and treated. A drill is used to drill an access opening, and then different drills, files, broaches, and sterile chemicals will be used to clean out all of the infected soft and hard tissue from within the canals. The tooth’s root canals will then be filled with gutta percha, and a temporary filling will be placed in the tooth to keep the tooth clean. The dental pain usually subsides in less than 24 hours. Some type of full coverage restoration will be performed at a future date on this tooth to keep it from completely breaking down.

A dental abscess can cause pain, swelling and redness of the gums, bad breath, draining pus, and a temperature. If you have a bad toothache and/or are experiencing any of the above symptoms, call and visit your London dental clinic immediately. A dental abscess results from an infection either within the tooth itself, and immediately adjacent to the tooth/teeth in the gum tissue and/or supporting bone. If not treated, more serious problems can result, such as a cellulitis. This will cause massive swelling to that area of your face and can be life-threatening. The treatment may include root canal therapy and/or gum surgery to resolve the infections. Antibiotics will be prescribed, and possibly pain medication if the pain is severe. A dental abscess can result in tooth loss if not treated immediately!
The first thing your dentist will do is to examine your mouth and take the appropriate X-rays, so that they can determine which tooth or teeth are involved. There are also other tests that can be performed, such as percussion, heat and cold tests, and electrical stimulation tests to see if the tooth is dead. Your bite will also be checked to make sure that the pain is not caused by your tooth/teeth touching prematurely or at a wrong angle to each other. The dental abscess may be too far progressed to save the tooth, in which case the tooth/teeth will require removal. If an infection is present, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection before the tooth is removed. If this is not done, the infection may spread through the blood system. In addition, your dentist will place an ice-pack on your face and have you rinse with warm-salt-water (e.g., one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water). There are things that you can do to prevent a dental abscess, which include brushing and flossing your teeth, and avoided sugary snacks between meals. Visit your London dental clinic regularly to prevent getting a dental abscess.

Full and partial dentures are being offered in London to replace your teeth. There are different types of dentures that you and your dentist can decide upon, depending on your unique situation. The main denture types consist of full dentures if you are missing all of your teeth or require your remaining teeth removed for health reasons, and partial dentures to replace missing teeth if you have healthy teeth to anchor the partial denture. It is always better to try to save your teeth. However, if this is not possible, then you should decide with your London dentist, which is the best treatment to meet your needs. Your dentist will perform an examination, take impressions for study models, and also take X-rays of your mouth to determine a course of action. Full dentures can be made to replace teeth removed during surgery right away (this is called an “immediate” denture), or a regular denture if your natural teeth have been missing for awhile. “Immediate” dentures can also protect the surgical sites while they are healing. There are numerous reasons to replace an existing old denture. These include poor fit, wear, breakage, poor bite, etc. If your denture is over 5 years old you should seriously consider replacing it. However, there are also times when you can wear the same denture for many years. Your London dentist will advise you on whether your dentures require replacing. You may feel like everything is okay and that the dentures feel well. However, you will still need to visit your dentist to make sure that to underlying soft tissues are in good shape and free from disease(s).
Removable partial dentures are made to improve on your existing aesthetics, and there are several types of denture acrylic bases available for increased comfort as well as aesthetics. The teeth, either made of very hard plastic or porcelain are chosen from numerous sizes, shapes, and shades, in order to give you the best results possible. Both full and partial dentures can be removed for cleaning, and in the case of partial dentures, to also clean the natural teeth. Semi-precision and precision attachment partial dentures are also available in the appropriate cases, so that clasps do not show and more central forces are placed on the teeth. Numerous options exist to replace missing teeth, so visit your London dental clinic to discuss all of your options with your dentist.

Dental implants have been available for a long time, and over the years many significant advances have been made in the field. They are excellent alternatives to replace missing teeth. Your London dentists have the expertise to replace single and numerous teeth with dental implants. Dental implants have proven to be very successful and long lasting, and are most likely the correct choice to restore your teeth. Dental implants seem to be a better alternative to other teeth replacement procedures, and have also been used with great success to stabilize dentures. Your London dentist will review what is involved in terms of replacing your teeth with dental implant(s), and will recommend the appropriate type and number.
Your London dentist is properly trained and certified in the placement and use of dental implants. However, there may be times when he/she will refer you to a surgical specialist if your case is very complicated. Successful dental implants are better performed when all of the procedures are carefully planned out, and all of the diagnostic material is collected beforehand, such as proper radiographs, models, intra-oral and extra-oral examinations, bite registrations, study models, and even a tomogram if necessary. This will give your dentist a three dimensional image of your jaw bone(s), where the implants are to be placed. Mostly fabricated of titanium, and having a barrel or screw shape, dental implants are placed into your jaw bone using special drills. After they are placed, it will take some time from most regular dental implants to become very solid in the bone. Following this period of time, the proper tooth/teeth restoration(s) can be inserted.

There are many different ways to whiten your teeth. However, it is best that you visit your London dentist to go over all of your options before you begin. Make sure that you fully understand the different teeth whitening procedures available to you. Your London dentist will help you to decide on the correct way to proceed and which methods are the best. There are in-office procedures to whiten your teeth, such as the Zoom® technique, and techniques where custom fitted clear rubbery trays are made and whitening gel supplied. Be sure that you understand fully what is involved with each procedure. Your London dentist will also tell you how your teeth should respond to whitening, as different shade teeth respond differently. Also, existing composite fillings, bondings, and veneers do not respond to whitening, and may have to be removed and/or replaced to obtain the best results.
If your dentist decides to use the in-office teeth whitening procedure, he/she will explain that it will take several visits of 30-60 minutes per visit. They place a rubber isolation appliance over your teeth with protective gel beneath it, in order to protect the soft tissues of your mouth. Then the whitening gel is applied to your teeth, and a special light is placed in close proximity to your teeth. The light is then turned on and left in place for 30-60 minutes. This is then repeated at future visits.
Your dentist may also dispense teeth whitening gels that contain carbamide peroxide at concentrations of 10%, 16%, or 22%, to be used at home. This gel is placed into custom-made rubbery-trays specifically made for you, and the gel is placed into these trays. Make sure that you report any side effects to your dentist. However, you may have minimal gum irritation and teeth sensitivity which will diminish over time. Do not use abrasive toothpastes to try to clean your teeth. You will only damage the tooth enamel. Therefore, visit your London dentist for the best teeth whitening results.

Your London dentist will tell you some of the advantages of amalgam fillings. The use of amalgam fillings in dentistry has been known for approximately 150 years. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury and several metals, such as silver, tin, copper, and zinc. It has been used for so long due to its advantages over other filling materials. It is cheap, strong, durable, easy to use, and bacteriostatic (i.e., it stops the growth of bacteria). In the past, the choices of restorations were either amalgam or hot boiled gold that had to be hammered into the tooth. The hammered gold technique could damage the tooth, so amalgam became the widely accepted restorative filling material. More recently, there has been concern over the mercury contained in the amalgam fillings. The main question is if mercury in amalgam harmful to the patient and/or environment. Therefore, the mercury content in amalgam fillings was lowered.
Amalgam is viewed as versatile and outstanding dental restoration, in that it is easy to place into the tooth and manipulate before it sets, and is inexpensive. It also lasts twice as long as composite fillings, 10-12 years versus 5-6 years, respectively. Amalgam procedures are usually not as complex or time consuming as composite fillings. The composite techniques require greater care and are more sensitive, requiring precision handling, a dry field, and more procedures to place than an amalgam filling. Amalgam, being bacteriostatic, stops the growth of bacteria at the margins of the filling and tooth, while the basic ingredients of composite fillings actually promote bacterial growth. Thus, bacterial growth under amalgams occurs much more slowly than under composite fillings. This is usually a factor in failure of restorations. Visit your London dental clinic for more information.

In the past, it seemed like only adolescents and teenagers wore orthodontic braces. However, more recently braces are also being worn by adults. Approximately 30% of orthodontic patients in the U.S. are adults, and others countries are catching up to this percentage. Even though this trend is here in London, it is still a good idea to start orthodontic treatment at an early age for the best results. Your London dentist recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation at 7 years old. Malocclusion and crooked teeth are both a restorative and cosmetic issue. Independent of your age, orthodontic treatment can help to protect your bite, increase your teeth’s ability to perform their functions, and align your teeth, allowing for a more aesthetic appearance. Additionally, straighter teeth can make good oral hygiene easier to perform and maintain.
If your dentist feels that you are a candidate for orthodontics, they will most likely refer you to an orthodontist (i.e., a specialist in the field). Initially, the orthodontist will use various methods to develop your treatment plan. These methods include: facial and intraoral photographs; a facial, oral and functional exam; panoramic and cephalometric radiographs; and alginate impressions for your plaster dental models to analyse your teeth and bite. Then the orthodontist comes up with a specific treatment plan for just you, and presents this to you during the second visit. The orthodontist will also tell you how long the whole process will take. This is usually dependent upon the complexity of the situation, how well the treatment plan is followed, and the age of the patient. Younger patients usually have shorter treatments than adults, due to the supporting bone structure around the teeth. But, this again is dependent upon a number of other factors.