The world around us is constantly changing as new technology changes the way we live our lives and the possibilities of what we can achieve. The world of dentistry is no different and is constantly evolving and improving thanks to the introduction of new technology. One of the most significant new technologies in dentistry is the digital x-ray.

This has made possible treatments that would have been almost unimaginable twenty or even ten years ago. For example, digital x-rays have allowed the introduction of Cerec technology, a system that allows dentists to design, manufacture and fit dental restorations like veneers and crowns in just a single appointment. This has drastically reduced waiting times and procedure times for all patients.

Digital x-rays also have several other distinct advantages over the more traditional form of imaging. The images produced by a digital x-ray are available to the dentist almost immediately, as opposed to the time it used to take to develop traditional x-ray film. This has reduced treatment time and allowed dentists to be a lot more efficient.

Digital x-ray images can also be stored on a computer. This means they can be compared more closely to other previous x-rays and the computer can highlight any changes between the two images. This has resulted in dentist being more able to distinguish even the most subtle changes in the teeth and spot any problems or symptoms that may have occurred.

Digital x-rays also require significantly less radiation than their more old-fashioned counterparts. This means they are safer to use for both patients and Central London dentists who need to x-ray on a daily basis. You can find out more information about digital x-rays and their benefits at your next check up or by asking your dentist.

More and more dentists in the UK starting to use Cerec technology for improved dental restoration and repair work. Cerec, also known as chair-side restoration, is a revolutionary new dental technology that allows dentists to design, manufacture and fix dental crowns, veneers and inlays in a single visit.

It works by using the latest digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging to produce an instant representation of the patient’s mouth on the screen. This is incredibly accurate and, needless to say, far quicker than the old methods of traditional x-rays and dental moulds which could often take days to prepare.

Once the dentist has the image of the patient’s mouth, they are then able to set about designing the perfect dental restoration on the computer. This information can then be passed to a mill that is operated by a computer. The mill sculpts the tooth from a single piece of carefully matched porcelain in only a few minutes per tooth. This can all take place in a single appointment.

Your City of London dentist will then be able to fix the dental crown or veneer using dental bonding and a dental laser. Because these new porcelain restorations are made from a single piece of porcelain they are incredibly strong and as such, can be a lot thinner than they used to be. This limits the amount of preparation work needed by the teeth.

Cerec represents an incredible leap forward for dentistry. It is reducing appointment times and waiting lists for all patients and allowing dentists more time to focus on each patient in turn. If you are thinking of having veneers or need a crown replaced, speak to your dentist about the possibilities of Cerec.

Everybody wants to have the perfect smile. A beautiful beam, full of white, evenly sized teeth can be a very attractive and useful asset. After all, smiling is one of the most important methods we have of demonstrating our emotions and communicating with others. For those of us who have not been blessed by Mother Nature with a beautiful set of natural teeth, science has come to our aid. In the last twenty years, a vast array of cosmetic dentistry procedures have been created (or improved from former, more archaic, treatments) which has made it possible for us all to have our dream smile.

For patients who suffer from chipped or cracked teeth, there is the option of dental bonding. This involves the application of a composite resin, matching the colour of the existing teeth, which can be applied and hardened to disguise the damage. For more serious cases, patients can now be fitted with the very latest CEREC technology crowns. Made with the aid of 3D computer technology, CEREC crowns are sculpted to microscopic degrees of accuracy from a single piece of pre-matched porcelain, providing the most realistic looking crowns ever produced.

For other patients who have missing teeth, either from decay or from head traumas, there are a variety of options to replace the missing teeth. Dental bridges can be constructed and fitted that can last up to ten years, if cared for correctly. Alternatively, a dental implant, where a crown is secured to the jawbone, can provide the most stable and solid alternative to a real tooth.

Once the teeth have been repaired to look straight and even, there are a multitude of processes that can make them appear whiter. Although home whitening kits are available, it is always recommended to have this procedure carried out by a dentist for safety reasons.

Whatever the nature, or magnitude of problems you may have with your teeth, the latest in cosmetic dentistry will be able to restore or create the appearance of a healthy smile. The new technologies in cosmetic dentistry have made it possible to give you a complete smile makeover with a minimum of pain and stress. Visit a London dentist for advice on which cosmetic procedures could work best for you and treat yourself to the smile you always wanted.

Regular dental crowns usually take two dental visits to complete. This isn’t the case with Cerec crowns that are now being offered in London. Cerec crown fabrication uses an advanced technical system to make the crowns in a very short time. Your London dentist can make your Cerec crown in 60-90 minutes, and this will save you and your dentist valuable time. A temporary crown is not required, as the Cerec crown will be placed in a short time; before the dental anaesthesia wears off. Cerec crowns are also aesthetic and contain no metal. There are several very slight disadvantages to Cerec crowns including the difficulty in exact colour match, since they are made of standardized porcelain blocks with are milled using computer technology. They are best when used on the back teeth. Also, you need to make sure that your dentist is specially trained in this technology. Your London dentist has received the required training.

When you go visit your London dental clinic, you may need one or several restorations to repair your teeth that have excessive decay and/or root canals. So, how much time are you going to miss from work, how long is this going to take, and how much is it going to cost (i.e., in both time away from work and the price of the dental procedure(s)) Your mind is calculating and then you meet your London dentist, who tells you that this entire process will take only an hour and a single visit. You think to yourself; how can this be? All of you other onlays or crowns took several visits. Your London dentist explains that their dental clinic now has CEREC technology which will allow the dentist to prepare your tooth, take a digital picture of the preparation which gets changed into a 3-D computerised model, and then have the on-site dental laboratory fabricate the restoration. The entire procedure only takes about an hour. Once your dentist and the laboratory are pleased with the computer designed tooth/teeth, a very high quality ceramic block will be milled on-site and then shaded and coloured to match your tooth or teeth. The ceramic blocks are available in many tooth shades, and your dentist can perform a very good match. Once the restoration is tried in the mouth and fitted properly, it is touched up and polished, and then cemented in place. Your dentist also has more control of the final restoration, as it is made in the dental office instead of having to be sent to an outside laboratory.