X-rays are an important part of any thorough dental examination and patients awaiting any kind of dental surgery or procedure will usually be extensively x-rayed to allow the dentist a clearer idea of the structure of their teeth. These conventional x-rays can take several days to develop, which adds to the overall treatment time and means that more than one appointment is always necessary, no matter how small the operation. In recent years dentists have been able to use new digital x-ray technology that removes the need for lengthy developing.

Digital x-rays offer images that use 80 per cent less radiation, one of the major concerns of extensive x-raying on dental patients. They also do not need any kind of chemical developing which is better for the environment and most importantly much faster than the old method. In fact, digital x-rays produce an almost instantaneous image which can be produced in colour. This image appears on the computer for the dentist to scrutinise in about three seconds and can also be saved onto the hard drive and stored in the patient’s dental records.

This instant imaging has allowed the development of several new and incredible dental technologies, most notably CEREC. This kind of ceramic reconstruction can now be carried out in only one appointment meaning patients can have crowns, veneers and inlays designed and fitted in only one visit to the dentists. This time saving measure has made digital x-ray a must-have technology for all Central London dentists who are using it to provide cutting-edge dental treatment.

CEREC is one of the most advanced dental products available anywhere in the world. It offers same day dental restorations including the fitting of crowns, veneers and inlays. Saving huge amounts of time and laboratory work, the CEREC system allows dentists to design, manufacture and fit ceramic restorations in a single trip producing a final result that is a stunningly accurate dental restoration indistinguishable from a natural tooth.

CEREC was first created by Professor W. Mörmann and Dr. M Brandestini in Switzerland in 1980. The first treatment was carried out in 1985 and the technology has been advancing and improving ever since. Today it is used by a growing number of dentists all over the world and represents the future of dental technology.

It works by utilising digital x-rays and 3D imaging to build up an accurate three-dimensional portrait of the patient’s mouth. The dentist can then use this to design an accurate ceramic restoration before instructing a computer-guided mill to sculpt the desired product from a single piece of porcelain. This milling can take as little as six minutes which, when compared to the days or even weeks of laboratory work it used to take is really a remarkable leap forward. Because the porcelain is sculpted from a single piece it means it is much stronger than layered replacements.

Once fabricated, the dental replacements are cemented into place with dental bonding producing a perfect dental restoration that can even be matched to the existing teeth colour. City of London dentists are now using CEREC technology to offer outstanding and revolutionary dental treatment to all patients.

For dentists in the past, building up a three-dimensional image of a patient’s mouth was a difficult and drawn out process. It involved taking several uncomfortable dental moulds of the patient and then some x-rays which would take several days to develop. This lengthy process added to patient’s waiting times and treatment times by increasing the number of appointments required for each procedure.

Dental technology has come along way in the last two decades and the advent of computer technology is finally revolutionising the industry. The latest technological wizardry comes in the form of digital x-rays. Also known as digital radiography, images are transferred digitally onto the computer which removes the need for lengthy photographic development. Digital sensors capture an image of the patient’s teeth which is then immediately available to the dentist. It is also possible to save the images onto the hard drive and store in the patient’s file for future reference..

This instant access has made a whole new range of treatment possible almost instantaneously. The microscopic accuracy of the image has also had positive effects on the quality of treatment. However, the most stunning aspect of digital x-rays is the ability to use the images produced in computer-aided manufacture. It is now possible to manufacture crowns and veneers in a matter of minutes, a process that used to take up to two weeks from start to finish. Digital x-rays have been the foundation stone for all of this new technology.

Digital x-rays are so cutting-edge that they are not available in all dentists’ surgeries at the moment. They do however represent the future of dental treatment. Ask a City of London dentist about the possibilities of digital x-rays and whether they have or are planning to use the very latest in dental technology.

There are a number of dental concerns that can benefit from veneers and crowns. Teeth that are chipped, cracked or broken can be reinforced and strengthened by the application of a crown. Veneers are often fitted after dental surgery such as root canals or fillings to secure any procedural work carried out. Veneers are now also commonly used to replace whole sets of teeth that are affected by discolouration or that are worn down or unevenly spaced. Veneers used to take several weeks to manufacture in laboratory conditions and as such were often prohibitively expensive. However with improvements in technology over the last twenty years it is now possible to design, manufacture and fix a whole row of veneers in only one sitting.

At the forefront of this incredible new technology is CEREC. It stands for CEramic REConstruction and is at the cutting edge of dentistry. It has eliminated the need for costly and uncomfortable dental moulds and x-rays. These procedures were also time consuming, adding days and weeks onto the manufacturing process. Now dentists are able to produce images of the patient’s teeth immediately using the latest in 3D imaging and digital x-rays. By creating three-dimensional representations of the patient’s teeth on the computer the dentist can then design a crown or veneer to microscopic degrees of accuracy.

The computer is then able to guide a milling machine in the actual fabrication of a crown or veneer. They can be milled form a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes and then fitted to the patient’s teeth immediately afterwards. CEREC veneers can be incredibly thin and also possess the translucent quality reminiscent of actual tooth enamel making them even more lifelike

CEREC technology is definitely the future of dentistry. By reducing waiting and treatment times it will bring down the cost and discomfort of most dental procedures whilst simultaneously improving the quality of treatment. The dental revolution starts here, ask you London dentist about CEREC technology.

In the past dentists have had to rely on dental moulds and x-rays to build up a 3D picture of what a patients teeth look like. They would then use these images to construct dental prosthetics and artificial teeth. This was a painstaking process that often took weeks. Even the moulding and x-ray processes were lengthy and required patients to make several visits to the surgery.

In the last twenty years however, vast improvements have been made in dental technology. The introduction of computer aided manufacture and design has greatly improved both the efficiency and accuracy of dental procedures. Dentists are now able to design, manufacture and install crowns and veneers in one appointment. All of these improvements have been made possible by the use of digital radiography, otherwise known as digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays is a form of x-ray imaging that uses sensors instead of conventional photographic film. Because the images are transferred digitally, the lengthy developing process has been made redundant, cutting waiting times and cost. Digital x-ray sensors capture images of the patient’s mouth and make it available as a digital file that is readily available for viewing. It can also be saved as part of a patient’s long-term case history.

The possibility for dentists to view, study and save an exact digital image of the patients mouth has made easier a whole range of previously incredibly complex dental procedures. The microscopic accuracy of the images has also improved the quality of the treatment.

Digital x-ray cameras are the very latest in cosmetic dental technology, due to their cost, not every dentist will have one in their surgery but they definitely represent the future of dentistry. Ask your City of London dentist about the possibilities of digital x-rays.

The advances in dental technology that have been made in the last twenty years are astounding. Dentists’ surgeries are unrecognisable from the intimidating clinic atmospheres of the past and today more resemble health spas. Accompanying these aesthetic changes are the technological leaps, none more so than CEREC. An abbreviation of the term CEramic REConstruction, CEREC is a cutting edge new tool that allows dentists to design, manufacture and install a new crown all in one visit, and with an incredible degree of accuracy. Using the previous laboratory construction techniques, a new crown could take several weeks to manufacture and even then could need further adjusting once in place.

CEREC works by utilising the very latest in computer aided 3D technology. Using digital imaging, the dentist is able to create an exact replica of the patient’s mouth on the computer. They are then able to digitally design a perfectly shaped and sized crown. The dentist can then instruct the computer to fabricate the new crown, once they are satisfied with the projected appearance.

The incredible manufacturing process involves sculpting the new crown from a single piece of porcelain by milling. The entire milling process can take as little as six minutes and is produced to microscopic levels of accuracy. This obvious improvement, in both accuracy and speed, has had significant benefits for patients.

CEREC technology means that replacement crowns can now look more lifelike than was previously possible, and the dentist can even select the specific shade of ceramic to match the patient’s teeth. A staining process may also be used to give it a worn appearance so that it doesn’t stand out.

As a result of this phenomenal new process, waiting times are being reduced, as are appointment times and frequencies, meaning patients spend less time in the often-feared dentist’s chair. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth that requires a crown, ask a London dentist about the very latest in dental technology.

The latest innovative addition to the world of dentistry is laser techniques or laser dentistry. This provides a highly precise and effective medium for many dental treatments and procedures. The efficacy of this application lies entirely in the dentist’s hands and his ability to direct the laser to a very specific area of focus without causing any damage to the tooth structure or surrounding tissues.

Laser dentistry holds many advantages in comparison to other dental techniques. Some of these include;
• Sutures are not required for soft tissue dental treatments utilizing laser technology.
• Many laser dental procedures do not require the use of local anaesthesia.
• Blood loss or bleeding can be minimized or done away with using this technique.
• The high energy beam of the laser has a sterilizing action on the area on which it focuses; hence bacterial infections are also rare with laser dentistry.
• There is very minimal damage to the surrounding tissues with this technique
• Laser dentistry also aids in healing the wounds faster causing regeneration of tissues.

A wide variety of dental procedures can be performed using laser technology which includes hard tissue treatments like detection of tooth cavities, dental fillings and teeth sensitivity; soft tissue treatments like crown lengthening, muscle attachment or fraenula and reshaping gum tissues or gummy smile. Other laser dentistry procedures include removal of tumours, teeth whitening and temporomandibular joint treatment.

If you consider yourself to be a very anxious patient, consult a London dentist who has specialised in laser dentistry to get the maximum benefit out of this innovative technology.

Dental lasers are taking over the traditional means of dentistry. Drills, gougers are being replaced by painless measures like lasers. They do not cause any sort of discomfort to the patients. Many people are undergoing these treatments in London. They are employed to shape up the gums and whiten up your discoloured teeth. The painless ray is very effective and does not cause any harm. The process of filling and route canalling has also been given a new look and dimension.
Now, you need not withstand the pain of injections and needles for delivering anaesthesia. The mechanism behind the process is stirring of water molecules. It leads to explosions at a microscopic level. The area gets vaporised and acts like a knife for cavities and gums. The eyes are covered by protective glasses because the stray light can damage your eyes and your mouth is filled with cotton swabs. Anaesthetic cream is applied in the mouth and laser is used to treat the desired area.
The process is very costly and time consuming too. The technology has faced many drawbacks since the day of launch. So, it’s always better to carry out under the guidance of a proper dentist. Maintain a good oral hygiene and stop the consumption of tobacco or caffeine containing products. The machines are costly too when compared with that of the traditional drills. The performance and functions of such lasers are increasing day by day. With the advent of new technologies, in few years, you will surely come across cost effective lasers too.

There have been several cases of patients getting befuddled when their London dentist asks them to go to a hypnotherapist. You stop to think, “What is the relation between dentistry and hypnosis?” Though it is an indirect approach, most dentists in London refer their patients to a hypnotherapist to ally the fears in the mind of the patient that might serve as a hindrance to the treatment method.

There are several misconceptions about dental treatments that are doing the rounds such that individuals view routine dental checkups with skepticism. Hence it becomes pertinent that patients undergo hypnotic treatment before any dental solution can be administered on them. But there are reasons as well why your dentist will ask you to consult a hypnotherapist. Certain patients have problems adjusting to dental appliances such as protective equipments and hence the dentist refers them for hypnosis only if the patient accedes to it.

Some of the other reasons of using hypnosis are:

• Mitigating pain and other related discomforts.
• To maintain the patient’s comfort during long strenuous dental procedures.
• Appending dental habits.
• Reducing the usage of anesthetics and analgesics.
• Prevention of gagging and nausea
• Control of saliva flow and bleeding.

These are some of the reasons why dentists refer their patients to a hypnotherapist. The only precaution that a dentist must take is that the hypnotherapy must be administered under the complete consent of the patient except in cases of emergency with the patient being unconscious. So the next time your dentist asks you to go for hypnotic treatment don’t be surprised.

A sportsperson always wishes to be fit at all times. Missing a game not only puts the body out of shape but also they tend to lose touch. This is why athletes always try to refrain from injuries. But despite their best efforts to prevent them, injuries always strike when they least want them.

In sports that involve direct contact it is common for players to be out of action owing to dental injuries. Boxing and Rugby players are the most prone to dental injuries since they are more susceptible to oral or facial trauma. Sports dentistry is one of the upcoming areas of dentistry which is quickly becoming popular in London. It involves the prevention and cure methods for injuries that players acquire while playing sports. There are several aspects of sports dentistry namely teaching the right technique, purchase and maintenance of the apt equipment, safe play areas and protective equipments.

Protective equipments are becoming increasingly popular among athletes but there are certain aspects that must be taken care. Every athlete has a unique make up and hence administering common protective equipment to everyone does not serve the purpose. A sports dentist is suppose to take into account the physical make up of the sportsperson and, of course, his comfort. The player must be comfortable wearing the equipment since he should not be concentrating on the mouth-guard when he should be focusing on the game.

Sports dentistry is not restricted to the actual playoffs alone. Practice sessions play a vital role in the player’s fitness and hence care must be taken as and when the player is in action.