When teeth are cracked or chipped and cannot be fixed by composite bonding, then a veneer or crown may be necessary in order to strengthen the tooth. Veneers are also necessary when teeth have been filled or had root canal procedures to protect the exposed areas. Veneers are not just used to repair damage to teeth and can be used for more cosmetic purposes. For example, teeth that are unevenly spaced or worn down can have veneers attached to improve their appearance.

In the past some dentists and patients have been reluctant to use veneers because they appeared false, but with the improvements in dental technology over the past twenty years there are now veneers that are incredibly lifelike, that act as adequate substitutes for real teeth.

Lumineers, manufactured by Cerinate, are the very latest in veneer technology. Incredibly thin (about the same width as a contact lens) they require a far less significant portion of the existing tooth to be removed before they can be attached. This has often been another reason why dentists have avoided using veneers as they used to require a significant portion of the enamel to be removed in order to attach a veneer, without it appearing too big. In fact, Lumineer veneers are so thin that the process is reversible. They can also fit over existing crowns and dental work, greatly reducing the work and time needed for some procedures, not to mention painful removals.

Lumineers are at the cutting edge of dental technology, and represent a promising future for realistic and efficient dental repairs. London dentists are using Lumineers to repair damage and create stunning cosmetic results to patients. If you think you may need a veneer or are unhappy with a previous crown, ask a London dentist about Lumineers and you could have the natural looking smile returned to your face.

Your City of London dentist will advise you on which teeth whitening procedure will work best for your teeth. Your City of London dentist will examine your teeth and speak with you about your teeth whitening expectations, and what is truly possible to achieve. From your true teeth shade, the dentist can tell how your teeth will respond to the whitening procedure. Yellowish teeth respond the best to teeth whitening procedures, followed by brown teeth, with the worst being greyish teeth. Your dentist will also examine your teeth for composite fillings and porcelain veneers; these will not get whiten with teeth whitening procedures.
Your City of London dentist may recommend an in-office teeth whitening procedure that can take a few visits of 30-60 minutes each. This procedure requires that the treated teeth be isolated using a shielding gel and rubber dam in order to protect the soft tissues of the mouth. A whitening gel is then applied to the teeth to be whitened, and one a several different special light sources can be used to activate the gel. Rubbery-type trays are then made for the patient so that they can apply a whitening gel to their teeth between dental visits.
Various types of over-the-counter products are also available in stores, online, and mail order, etc. Beware of some of these products, and make sure you get the advice of your City of London dentist prior to purchasing and using these products. Your dentist should know about any side-effects that may result from his procedure. These are usually teeth sensitivity, that will subside after a few days.

White fillings are another name for composite fillings that are used instead of amalgam dental fillings in your back teeth. They do not contain mercury or metal, and therefore will not stain the tooth they are placed in, adjacent teeth, or the gum tissue. They look great, and are natural in appearance. Your London dentist can match the surrounding tooth structure with the many shades available. These composite fillings are used in situations where tooth decay exists and is properly removed, or if the tooth is damaged.
The restoration technique for composites is more complex than for amalgams, however do not require the same amount of tooth structure removal as amalgam fillings do in many cases. Your dentist will numb the area of your where he is working, and remove the decay and weakened parts of the tooth. Next your dentist will place a base, so as not to damage the tooth’s pulp. The tooth is then etched, and washed and dried. An unfilled resin material is then placed so that it flows into all areas of the tooth preparation. Next, the composite is placed in layers, if necessary so that it can be hardened (i.e., cured) with a special light. These lights only penetrate the composite to a certain distance. So, if the cavity preparation is deep, the composite needs to be placed appropriately so it will harden. Then the composite is shaped using drills, polishing stones and rubber wheels. The mouth must be kept dry while placing the composite.

There are many different ways to whiten your teeth. However, it is best that you visit your London dentist to go over all of your options before you begin. Make sure that you fully understand the different teeth whitening procedures available to you. Your London dentist will help you to decide on the correct way to proceed and which methods are the best. There are in-office procedures to whiten your teeth, such as the Zoom® technique, and techniques where custom fitted clear rubbery trays are made and whitening gel supplied. Be sure that you understand fully what is involved with each procedure. Your London dentist will also tell you how your teeth should respond to whitening, as different shade teeth respond differently. Also, existing composite fillings, bondings, and veneers do not respond to whitening, and may have to be removed and/or replaced to obtain the best results.
If your dentist decides to use the in-office teeth whitening procedure, he/she will explain that it will take several visits of 30-60 minutes per visit. They place a rubber isolation appliance over your teeth with protective gel beneath it, in order to protect the soft tissues of your mouth. Then the whitening gel is applied to your teeth, and a special light is placed in close proximity to your teeth. The light is then turned on and left in place for 30-60 minutes. This is then repeated at future visits.
Your dentist may also dispense teeth whitening gels that contain carbamide peroxide at concentrations of 10%, 16%, or 22%, to be used at home. This gel is placed into custom-made rubbery-trays specifically made for you, and the gel is placed into these trays. Make sure that you report any side effects to your dentist. However, you may have minimal gum irritation and teeth sensitivity which will diminish over time. Do not use abrasive toothpastes to try to clean your teeth. You will only damage the tooth enamel. Therefore, visit your London dentist for the best teeth whitening results.

Your London dentist will tell you some of the advantages of amalgam fillings. The use of amalgam fillings in dentistry has been known for approximately 150 years. Dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury and several metals, such as silver, tin, copper, and zinc. It has been used for so long due to its advantages over other filling materials. It is cheap, strong, durable, easy to use, and bacteriostatic (i.e., it stops the growth of bacteria). In the past, the choices of restorations were either amalgam or hot boiled gold that had to be hammered into the tooth. The hammered gold technique could damage the tooth, so amalgam became the widely accepted restorative filling material. More recently, there has been concern over the mercury contained in the amalgam fillings. The main question is if mercury in amalgam harmful to the patient and/or environment. Therefore, the mercury content in amalgam fillings was lowered.
Amalgam is viewed as versatile and outstanding dental restoration, in that it is easy to place into the tooth and manipulate before it sets, and is inexpensive. It also lasts twice as long as composite fillings, 10-12 years versus 5-6 years, respectively. Amalgam procedures are usually not as complex or time consuming as composite fillings. The composite techniques require greater care and are more sensitive, requiring precision handling, a dry field, and more procedures to place than an amalgam filling. Amalgam, being bacteriostatic, stops the growth of bacteria at the margins of the filling and tooth, while the basic ingredients of composite fillings actually promote bacterial growth. Thus, bacterial growth under amalgams occurs much more slowly than under composite fillings. This is usually a factor in failure of restorations. Visit your London dental clinic for more information.