Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be the source of considerable pain and also result in further dental complications in the future. Therefore it is necessary to repair any damage caused to teeth as soon as possible. One of the most affordable and effective treatments for dental injuries is cosmetic bonding. The bonding process involves mixing up a resin to closely match the colour of the existing teeth and sculpting it to the desired shape. Once satisfied the dentist will then set the resin hard using the intense heat of a laser. Once set, the bonding is extremely durable and also resistant to staining.

Cosmetic bonding is not just used to repair damage caused by head trauma. It is also widely used to improve the appearance of worn, discoloured or unevenly spaced teeth. Unlike veneers and crowns it does not require laboratory conditions for manufacture, which significantly reduces cost and treatment times. In fact, most bonding procedures can be carried out in only one visit to the dentist. Although, if the treatment covers two or more teeth the bonding may need several layers applied and will need time to set in between applications.

Cosmetic bonding is almost completely pain-free unless being applied to a particularly sensitive area of the teeth. In some circumstances the dentist may consider using a local anaesthetic but this is unusual.

Cosmetic bonding is also replacing silver amalgam as the number one choice for filling dental cavities. Not only does it have the advantage of being tooth-coloured and therefore more aesthetically pleasing, but it also avoids the controversy surrounding the inclusion of potentially poisonous mercury in filling material.

Versatile, durable and visually discreet, cosmetic bonding is one of the most popular treatment choices for both dentists and patients. With the combined benefits of low cost and simple treatment, cosmetic bonding may be able to radically improve the integrity and appearance of your teeth with the minimum of discomfort. Talk to a City of London dentist about cosmetic bonding and how it could benefit your teeth.

When a tooth is chipped, cracked or broken, either by a sporting injury or other accident, the dentist will first attempt to repair the damage using composite resin dental bonding. However, if the tooth is damaged too severely, to preserve the tooth, there is little option but to fit a porcelain crown. This involves constructing a porcelain copy of the tooth to cap the damaged one. Crowns are also known as caps or veneers for this reason. A porcelain crown can preserve the integrity of the broken tooth, which can help to preserve its functionality.

Crowns are not only used to repair damaged or broken teeth. Because of advances in their construction and appearance they are increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes. Patients with badly stained or discoloured teeth, spacing issues or worn down teeth can now have porcelain crowns fitted to restore their natural appearance.

In the past, crowns have been made from other materials and have often looked unrealistic or fake. They have also been very difficult to fabricate, often taking weeks of laboratory work. With the introduction of computer aided design and manufacture, porcelain crowns can now be designed, manufactured and fitted in one appointment with the dentist in as little as an hour. By using 3D imaging the dentist can create an extremely accurate crown which will be milled by the computer, according to the exact specifications, from a single piece of porcelain in under twenty minutes.

Further advances in crown technology have produced crowns that are incredibly thin, which still maintain their strength. Some crowns can be as thin as a contact lens and require minimum removal of enamel to fit, something that dentists have been reluctant to do in the past. Some new crowns are so thin they can even be fitted over existing dental work.

Porcelain crowns are very versatile dental appliances that thanks to improvements in dental technology can be an incredibly realistic substitute for a real tooth. Because they are made from porcelain they can be very strong and help to preserve a broken tooth that may very well have been lost in other circumstances. If you are suffering from a broken tooth, or any form of cosmetic problem that could benefit form veneers, ask your Central London dentist if they could be suitable for you.

When a patient has a chipped or cracked tooth that it is unable to fix with dental bonding, it may be necessary to apply a dental veneer to save the tooth. Dental veneers are also used to seal teeth after fillings or root canal treatments. The veneers are made of porcelain and take the form of thin shells that fit over the top of existing teeth. Modern veneers can be incredibly thin and have a translucent quality that makes them appear just like real teeth.

Veneers are not only used to repair damage that has occurred to teeth but may be used for cosmetic purposes. For cases of badly stained or discoloured teeth, a whole set of veneers may be used to cover the discolouration. The same might happen for a patient with badly worn or uneven teeth.

Manufactured in laboratory conditions, porcelain veneers are cemented to the existing teeth by dental bonding. They do cost slightly more than the old composite veneers but they are more durable and the difference in quality is visibly noticeable. Because veneers fit over existing teeth, the dentist will need to wear down some of the enamel to allow room for the new veneer. This process is permanent and cannot be reversed. However, as today’s enamels become thinner and thinner, due to new technology, the amount of preparation work is reduced and some of the very latest enamels can even be removed.

Veneers are very useful and versatile cosmetic tools. For some patients who have spacing issues, or even alignment issues, a row of veneers could vastly improve the appearance of the teeth in an afternoon, without the need for months, or even years, of uncomfortable and ugly braces. Likewise for whitening procedures, which are often only minimally successful, a row of veneers can produce the effect of white teeth without the need for chemicals or repeated whitening. A City of London dentist will be able to offer advice on porcelain veneers with regard to suitability and costing.

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”,”serif”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> Dental injuries caused by trauma while playing sport can be very distressing and be the cause of long-term physiological problems. Nearly half of all dental injuries occur while playing high-risk sports such as skiing, boxing, rugby or almost any sport that involves a ball. The most common sporting injuries are knocked out, cracked and chipped teeth that can be very difficult to repair and be the source of real pain. The injuries are not always immediately obvious, especially when secondary damage is sustained to the jaw and head. Following any head trauma sustained during sport or other activity it is always a good idea to make an appointment to see a dentist.

Sporting dental injuries can often be very difficult to treat because they involve a greater degree of damage to the surrounding area. For example, a knocked out tooth may be very difficult to replace due to further damage to the gums and jaw during the accident. Treatment for these types of injuries can therefore be costly and drawn out.

In most circumstances the dentist will be able to repair the damage to a reasonable standard, or replace the tooth with a dental implant, but it is a good idea to use preventative equipment. Using a mouth guard when playing physically demanding sports reduces the risk of suffering dental injuries and is far cheaper than paying for costly cosmetic dental treatment.

There are many mouth guards commercially available from sporting goods stores but these are often poorly fitting and do not provide the necessary level of protection. They don’t allow for the structure of the individuals teeth and can vary in quality. London dentists highly recommend having a guard molded and fitted specifically for your own mouth. For children, it is important to remember to replace the mouth guard regularly to accommodate for growing teeth. A well-fitted mouth guard will not cause any major discomfort during sport and could save you years of anxiety about dental injury.

Even though you may care about your appearance now, there will come a time in your life when it will be even more important. Regardless of whether you are getting married, or you want to look your best during the last of your prime years, dental bonding procedures can be an important part of your makeover. Today, your London dentist can combine dental bonding, gum contouring, veneers, and many other procedures to give you a movie star quality smile.

Interestingly enough, a gummy smile can also be treated with dental bonding. Depending on your bite pattern, it may be possible to use resin and other materials to make your teeth longer. At the same time, if the extra gum tissue creates gaps between your teeth, dental bonding can be used to fill those gaps in.

You may also have some purely functional reasons for having dental bonding procedures. In particular, if you have a cracked tooth or exposed roots, dental bonding can strengthen the tooth, as well as alleviate all the suffering that occurs with these conditions. As may be expected, if you have a chipped tooth, the bonded material will also help restore its natural shape.

Individuals that practice good oral hygiene and visit their dentist often may still have discoloured teeth, as well as suffer from all kinds of injuries. This, in turn, can create situation where resin and other dental bonding materials can be used to restore one or more teeth to their original strength and shape. If you have broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, you should not hesitate to see your dentist and have them taken care of. At the same time, if you have always dreamed of having perfect teeth, this will also be an opportunity to have certain cosmetic issues addressed.

Your City of London dentist is very capable of dealing with dental injuries, from a chipped tooth or infected tooth, all the way to an avulsed tooth (i.e., one that is knocked out). Make sure that you have available your City of London’s Dental Clinic’s telephone number available with you, in case a dental injury does occur. Despite any type of dental injury, dental X-rays will be requires so the dentist can decide the extent of the injury. Even a slightly chipped tooth will have to be X-rayed, in order to rule of pulpal injury. When a tooth is chipped or broken, it can possibly be repaired by simply placing a dental filling or bonding the tooth with tooth coloured material. Other times a porcelain veneer or crown may have to be used to repair the tooth. If the pulp of the tooth is involved, a root canal should be performed before the tooth is restored properly. Other times, especially during a sports activity, a tooth may be knocked out. If the tooth is immediately placed in milk of a saline solution, it may be able to be replaced into the mouth. Do not clean the tooth, and only handle it by the crown portion of the tooth, as this is more favourable. The dentist may be able to reinsert the tooth and splint it in replace with wires or bonding material to see if it takes over time. Your City of London dentist is also experiences with dealing with soft tissue lacerations inside the mouth. If the lacerations are very large and outside the mouth, your City of London dentist can pack the laceration or apply a gauze material until you can make it to a hospital or surgeons office. However, you should go there immediately. Your City of London dentist will suggest a mouth guard if you in fact do play sports to protect your teeth.