Essentially there are two main types of veneer and your Central London dentist will explain the differences. The main difference lies in the material that they are made from: composite resin or porcelain. Both types of veneer have their pros and cons and ultimately it will be up to you to weigh up your needs and decide which is best for what you have in mind.

Porcelain veneers are relatively new, compared to composite resin veneers. This means that they tend to be more expensive. In the past composite resin veneers had the advantage of being more convenient because they could be fitted in just one visit to the dentist whereas porcelain veneers had to be constructed off-site in a special lab which meant a couple of visits to the surgery. Increasingly though, dentists are using CEREC or CAD/CAM tools in their surgeries which allows porcelain veneers to be fabricated in just over five minutes by an online machine.

Porcelain veneers have the advantage that they will not stain. If there is damage sustained to a porcelain veneer the whole thing will have to be replaced; with composite resin veneers they can simply be repaired. Ask your dentist for more details.

Porcelain veneers are strips of porcelain which dentists can affix to the front of a tooth which you don’t like the appearance of. They are so thin that some have been affectionately dubbed ‘contact lenses for teeth’. They are effective at covering and concealing teeth which might feature a crack or a chip. They can be used for teeth which are stained but dentists are likely to recommend some sort of teeth whitening in this case. This is because sometimes a little of the existing tooth has to be removed in order to accommodate the porcelain veneer.

Thanks to modern techniques, porcelain veneers can be fitted with incredible speed. Even the busiest of schedules will likely be able to accommodate a porcelain veneer fitting which uses pioneering CEREC technology. This allows dentists to take a three dimensional image of your mouth and send it to an online milling machine. This will fabricate a porcelain veneer in just six minutes, ready to be fitted.

Your dentist can adapt the porcelain veneer so that it matches your surrounding teeth in terms of colour, texture and even translucence. The porcelain it is made from is incredibly durable and you will be able to treat it just like a normal tooth. Further to this, they are so discreet that even your closest intimates won’t know that you have a porcelain veneer. All they’ll notice is how great your smile looks. If you need any more information, talk to your Central London dentist today.

The most important thing to remember is to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss too. This is done to remove plaque from your teeth. Plaque is a substance which is formed every time you eat and drink but there will be more of it after you have consumed food or drink which contains a lot of sugar and or starch. If plaque builds up then it can attack the protective enamel surface of your teeth and lead to tooth decay.

Plaque can be a problem for your gums too and lead to gingivitis. This evidences itself with reddening of gums which ought to be a healthy pink and feelings of sensitivity. Gum disease is actually a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself, especially if it progresses into periodontitis, an inflammation of the bones which hold teeth in place.

Your London dentist can help with your oral hygiene by offering you advice and guidance on these matters. You should get into the habit of having a check up every six months with your dentist so that your mouth can be examined by a trained expert and your oral hygiene monitored. Book an appointment today and reap the benefits of good oral hygiene.

Example of cosmetic dentistry procedures include things like porcelain crowns and veneers which are used to cover up teeth which are cracked, chipped or even stained. Not just cosmetic though, these examples actually help improve the functions of the mouth too.

Teeth whitening is another type of cosmetic dentistry and can be carried out in the surgery with your dentist in charge or by using an over the counter kit purchased from a super market or a pharmacy. Some of these methods are able to restore teeth to the brightest possible level of whiteness.

Cosmetic dentistry also covers things like the wide variety of different braces and aligners which are now on the market and can be used to straighten misaligned, crooked, or over crowded teeth. Some of these products are extremely discreet, a vast improvement on the traditional metal brace.

Many of these procedures can be carried out with incredible speed these days thanks to advances in technology, such as CEREC. Digital x-rays are cutting down waiting times and reducing the need for repeat visits to the surgery. An added bonus is that this actually means that many of the costs of these treatments are actually reduced because the lab fees to develop x-rays are eliminated.

If you are not happy with a certain aspect of your smile then you should make an appointment to see your Central London dentist and discuss the various cosmetic dentistry procedures on offer.

There are a number of ways your Central London dentist can replace your missing tooth and restore both the appearance and the functionality. This could involve using a dental implant or even a partial denture. However, one of the most effective and popular choices is the dental bridge.

A dental bridge is just as it sounds, an artificial tooth that literally bridges the gap created by the missing tooth. The artificial tooth, or pontic from the Latin for ‘bridge’, will be attached by either two dental crowns or resin bonded strips. This will very much depend on the condition of the adjacent teeth.

The dental bridge will last up to fifteen years if it is properly cared for with effective brushing and flossing. The other major advantage of the dental bridge is the cost. When compared to other dental substitutes, the dental bridge is very cheap yet still very effective. You may have to be slightly careful when eating harder foods but other than that, the dental bridge will behave and appear just like a real tooth. If you have suffered a knocked out tooth or need to replace an old dental substitution then make an appointment to discuss dental bridges with your Central London dentist.

The two main prongs or oral hygiene are brushing and flossing. Brushing the teeth is perhaps the most important defence against dental disease. Brushing removes plaque and bacteria that builds up on the surface of the teeth and gums. Using toothpaste, gently brush the teeth angling the brush towards the gums. This should be done for about three minutes, twice a day after eating. Ideally you should brush your teeth after every meal but this is not always convenient. London dentists recommend using a soft-bristled brush with a small head for maximum efficiency when cleaning.

After brushing comes flossing; this helps to remove bacteria from the areas between the teeth and around the base near the gums. These areas are very small and almost impossible to clean with a toothbrush. This means they can often be the most dangerous areas for the start of decay and disease. Flossing at least once a day will help to remove bacteria and also any trapped food, which may be the cause of bad breath.

However, even if you have a very strict oral hygiene routine, there is still no substitute for a regular dental check up at least every six months. This will ensure that the first signs of any decay or gum disease are identified and dealt with before they can become a problem.

Dental crowns can be made from a number of different materials but most commonly are manufactured from metal or ceramic, usually porcelain. They are skilfully fabricated to resemble the size and shape of the real teeth so as to minimise the aesthetic impact of an artificial tooth.

Once the crown has been manufactured, and with modern computerised technology this is now possible in just one appointment, it then needs to be fixed in the mouth. This usually involves the City of London dentist removing some of the existing enamel so that the crown can fit comfortably over the existing tooth.

The crown is cemented in place using composite dental bonding. It may be necessary for the dentist to etch the surface of the existing tooth so that the bonding has a greater grip. The crown will cover all parts of the tooth exposed above the gum line to form a complete barrier to sources of heat and cold, as well as bacteria and infection.

A dental crown can last for many years if it is properly maintained and cleaned by brushing and flossing but can easily be replaced in the future.