Teeth can be damaged in a number of ways, which is not only painful but causes long-term dental problems. Chipped, cracked and discoloured teeth also spoil the appearance of the smile, which can cause confidence and self-esteem issues. Teeth can be repaired using porcelain crowns, which are cemented over the top of the existing teeth both protecting and restoring the appearance of the teeth.

Porcelain crowns are held in place by dental bonding, which also adds a protective element to the restoration. Porcelain crowns have been traditionally made in the lab taking a couple of weeks to build up the layers of the enamel but new technology called Cerec is allowing dentists to make porcelain crowns in the surgery while the patient waits.

This new technology utilises other technologies such as digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging. This allows the dentist to design the restoration on the computer before instructing a computer-guided mill to sculpt the crown.

Porcelain crowns look and feel just like real teeth. They will last for about fifteen to twenty years if they are properly cared for with good brushing and flossing. London dentists offer porcelain crowns to patients who are keen to have the best quality of treatment and the best results.

Modern porcelain crowns are also designed to look more like natural enamel and utilise no metal which could slightly spoil the appearance of the new crown, despite being very tough. Ask your dentist about the benefits of dental crowns at your next appointment.

A new formula made from porcelain has completely taken the dentistry world by surprise, the Lumineer as it’s called is so much easier to fit says a City of London dentist. Veneers are popular among those who seek a solution to minor teeth problems, ones which are largely cosmetic. A discoloured, chipped, wonky or cracked tooth is more an inconvenience than a usual tooth problem. Veneers up to now have been very thick in size due to the material used, that makes it impossible to have one fitted without first removing its equivalent in enamel from the rogue tooth. As enamel doesn’t grow back it means that you can only ever have another veneer on that tooth. Most of these veneers last up to around 15 years, and it involves removing the worn out one and replacing it with another one. The Lumineer puts paid to all that as it is so tough it now comes in a super thin version, this allows the dentist to simple just place it on the front of the tooth with a little cement. No preparation, except in some cases, is necessary and if any is required it is just a quick roughening of the surface to get a good adhesion. They can be removed at any time to allow treatment to the tooth, then simple replaced back on, or even exchanged for another one. They are expected to last up 20 years, and keep their colour much longer as well. The price is also very competitive.

There are many ways patients can chip teeth. It could be the result of a physical trauma such as a sporting injury or motor vehicle accident. However, it is just as likely that it is the result of biting something hard when chewing. Tooth enamel is a very durable substance but on occasions it can be prone to cracking and chipping.

A chipped tooth can be either painless or very painful depending on how much of the tooth is lost, and whether the chip affects the dental nerve. Perhaps more importantly is the aesthetic loss that a chipped tooth can cause. Chips can occur anywhere in the dental arc but commonly affect the front teeth as the result of accidents, and the incisors as the consequence of biting injuries. This means that they are often very visible and can a large impact on the appearance of the smile.

Just like missing teeth, patients are often very keen to restore the appearance of chipped teeth. City of London dentists can do this in two main ways. Firstly, they can rebuild the missing part of the tooth with dental bonding to create the appearance of a complete tooth. They do this by moulding the composite resin into the desired shape before setting it firm with heat from a dental laser.

Alternatively, they could cover the chipped tooth with either a porcelain crown or veneer depending on which tooth has suffered the crack. This will completely restore the shape of the chipped tooth and offer an added layer of protection to the tooth. Porcelain crowns and veneers are designed to closely match the size, shape and colour of the existing teeth.

A chipped tooth used to mean an extracted one, as did a fractured or cracked tooth. These days your dentist has all the means at their disposal to repair and save the tooth says a City of London dentist. Cosmetic Bonding is one solution; this brilliantly versatile material is generally used to fix veneers to the front of damaged teeth. However, with the availability of colouration the bonding can now be mixed and used much the same as Poly Filler is used by plasterers. Not only does it keep cracked teeth together and prevent further cracking, it also blends and dries so it can be ground to look natural and hide the seam, so to speak. With a chipped tooth it can replace the lost enamel and be sculptured to make the tooth look as good as new. It is a hard wearing material and should outlast the tooth. For teeth that need more to hide the damage, a veneer is the solution. This is a thin coating of porcelain formed to the shape of the front of a tooth; this is cemented onto the tooth to hide the chip, crack or discolouration. In some cases it can cover over a misaligned tooth and make the line of teeth appear straight. Your dentist has at his disposal many tricks of the trade that can now be used to save teeth, in the not too distant past these teeth would have been extracted, and a false denture would have replaced them. Thicker veneers are used in cases where the damage to a tooth goes deeper, but they require their depth to be skimmed off the tooth before they can be fitted. See your dentist in the first instance to see what they can to save a damaged tooth.

A veneer is a covering that gives the affect of a solid material; we all have veneer furniture in our houses, and now the dental profession uses veneers as well, says a City of London dentist. A chipped tooth can be so annoying as it catches the tongue when we chew and makes it sore, a cracked tooth is annoying as it lets hot and cold food stuffs into the inner chamber and causes us pain and infections. In the old days they would simply extract the tooth and replace it with a denture, but today we live an enlightened age and almost all dental problems are curable. Using a bonding agent, which is colour coded cement, your dentist can cover the crack and seal it, the join is almost invisible to the eye. A veneer would cover the front of the tooth and completely hide the crack altogether, not only that but it would also seal the crack and stop bacteria getting into it. It can be coloured to look any shade of white, that way a veneer will look and act just like your real teeth. For a chipped tooth it will not only hide the chip, but it will stop the tongue from getting caught on it when you are chewing. Veneers are also used by cosmetic dentists to disguise discoloured teeth and even in some cases a misaligned tooth, but one of the most common reasons is that of a cracked or chipped tooth. You don`t need to lose the tooth now, just have the problem `papered` over and left. There are varying types of veneers; the latest design is a Lumineer, which is super thin, but very tough. This veneer can last up to 20 years; it needs no special maintenance and is fitted in a matter of minutes. For more information and to see if this would solve any problems you have, see your dentist.

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.