The important thing about treating tooth decay is that the earlier it is carried out, the easier it is and the more successful it will usually be. Dental decay is not a condition that will ever improve of its own accord. Enamel will never grow back once it has been removed and once the process has started it will only worsen making the situation more serious.

Patients can prevent tooth decay by effective and regular brushing and flossing and by paying regular visits to the dentist. However, if decay does happen it is usually accompanied by a toothache as the sensitive dental nerve is exposed to extremes of hot and cold and other stimuli. Early stage treatment of dental decay involves filling the cavities caused by plaque eroding the protective enamel. Filling material used to be commonly made of silver amalgam but due to controversy about its safety and metallic appearance in the mouth it is increasingly being replaced by composite bonding, which is tooth-coloured. The dentist will first clean the cavity and remove any infected material or bacteria that is in there. The cavity is then filled and set hard to protect the tooth.

For larger cavities it may be necessary to use a porcelain inlay as bonding can become brittle in large areas. The inlay will be cemented into place using bonding. For even larger damage and root canal treatments it may be necessary to cover the whole tooth exposed above the gum with a ceramic dental crown to offer a larger degree of protection. If you suspect dental decay or are suffering from a toothache, make an appointment to see a Central London dentist for treatment.

Sometimes, when teeth are damaged to such an extent, they cannot be repaired using ordinary dental bonding and this can put the patient at risk of further pain and damage. On these occasions it is necessary to protect the integral structure of the tooth using a dental crown. In the past dentists have been more reluctant to use crowns for several reasons. Firstly, because they took so long to make (up to three weeks) and even then were often poorly fitting. Secondly, they required the removal of otherwise healthy enamel to be able to fit over the top of the damaged tooth, which was an irreversible procedure. However, with the advent of certain modern technology, dental crowns are now a lot easier to fit than you might have thought.

More and more London dentists are using CAD/CAM technology. This stands for computer aided design/computer aided manufacture and has revolutionised the crown making and fitting process. Dentists are now able to use 3D cameras and digital x-rays to create an exact image of the patients mouth on a computer. They can then use this image to design a perfectly fitting crown before instructing the computer-guided mill to sculpt the new crown from a single piece of porcelain. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, it can take as little as six minutes to mill a new crown from a single block of porcelain. This technology has addressed the time factor of dental crowns and it also has a solution for the enamel removal problem. Because the new crown is carved from a single piece of porcelain it is very structurally strong and therefore very thin. This means that far less, if any, enamel needs removing prior to fitting a new crown.

The results possible using this new technology are astonishing. Porcelain can be chosen to match the exact colour of the patient’s teeth so that the crown looks incredibly real. If you are suffering with damaged teeth but have always been put off by the idea of a crown, maybe it’s time you took another look.

A root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a procedure specifically designed to deal with infected matter or decay located in the centre of the tooth. To fully understand the procedure you must first know that the teeth are made of several layers of different material. On the outside is the tooth enamel, the strong protective layer which surrounds the softer dentine on the inside, supporting the structure. Inside that is the soft tissue centre of the tooth containing the nerve.

The root canal of the tooth is the pulpy soft tissue that runs down from the tooth into the jawbone and gum securing the tooth. The pulp contains nerve endings and blood vessels that form the living part of the tooth. When tooth decay happens, this pulpy centre and root canal can become infected spreading down into the gum and bone. Needless to say this can be very painful as the infection is directly attacking the nerve. This infection can also spread to the gums and can cause a painful swelling known as a tooth abscess.

The root canal treatment is designed to save the tooth and alleviate pain by preventing the spread of infection and ultimately removing it. To do this the dentist will need to drill down through the tooth to get to the infected area. In the hands of a well-trained dentist and with the proper anaesthetic this process should be relatively painless and no more painful than having a regular filling. Once the infection is removed the cavity is filled and then sealed with a dental crown to prevent further infection.

Root canal treatments have a bad reputation as being painful and unpleasant but the reality is quite different. A root canal treatment from a City of London dentist could actually prevent a lot of pain and stop the spread of dangerous infections in the mouth.

CEREC is one of the most advanced dental products available anywhere in the world. It offers same day dental restorations including the fitting of crowns, veneers and inlays. Saving huge amounts of time and laboratory work, the CEREC system allows dentists to design, manufacture and fit ceramic restorations in a single trip producing a final result that is a stunningly accurate dental restoration indistinguishable from a natural tooth.

CEREC was first created by Professor W. Mörmann and Dr. M Brandestini in Switzerland in 1980. The first treatment was carried out in 1985 and the technology has been advancing and improving ever since. Today it is used by a growing number of dentists all over the world and represents the future of dental technology.

It works by utilising digital x-rays and 3D imaging to build up an accurate three-dimensional portrait of the patient’s mouth. The dentist can then use this to design an accurate ceramic restoration before instructing a computer-guided mill to sculpt the desired product from a single piece of porcelain. This milling can take as little as six minutes which, when compared to the days or even weeks of laboratory work it used to take is really a remarkable leap forward. Because the porcelain is sculpted from a single piece it means it is much stronger than layered replacements.

Once fabricated, the dental replacements are cemented into place with dental bonding producing a perfect dental restoration that can even be matched to the existing teeth colour. City of London dentists are now using CEREC technology to offer outstanding and revolutionary dental treatment to all patients.

Having a missing tooth, for whatever reason, can be an embarrassing and unpleasant situation. Not only does it have an adverse affect on confidence and esteem because of its negative aesthetic appearance, but it can also cause a variety of dental health and muscle problems if not replaced. Along with partial dentures and dental implants, the other major restoration available is a dental bridge.

A dental bridge literally involves bridging the gap of the missing tooth using dental crowns for support and an artificial tooth called a pontic. They rely on the patient having reasonably healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth to which the crowns can be attached. A Central London dentist will fit a dental bridge over the course of several appointments, first installing the crowns and a temporary bridge, when satisfied with the crowns, the dentist can then fix the artificial tooth, usually made of porcelain, which is slightly embedded in the gum to give it a more realistic appearance.

There are other types of dental bridge that can be used in certain situations. If the teeth are in particularly good condition and the dentist does not want to remove any enamel to fit a crown, the pontic can be supported by resin bonded strips. If there are only existing teeth on one side of the gap, a cantilever bridge can be used by attaching two or more crowns on that side for support. Dental bridges can last up to ten years if properly maintained. They are not the most sturdy of the dental replacements but they are one of the most affordable.

Some of the most common sporting injures involve some kind of dental trauma. Chipped, cracked or knocked out teeth are common in physically demanding sports such as football or rugby, and other ball sports like cricket. If you have ever been unfortunate enough to receive a dental injury playing sports you’ll know just how painful they can be. Chances are you’ll also know that the pain doesn’t end there. Dental injuries are often not simply curable and may require a succession of follow up treatments that can last for months or even years after the incident. These can involve further pain and complications not to mention putting a great big hole in your wallet.

While most dental injuries are eventually treatable, they often involve the use of a dental substitute such as a crown, veneer or artificial tooth. Recent advances in technology mean these treatments have come a long way and can now be very accurate and realistic. However, they will still need monitoring and replacing throughout your life as the average lifespan of any artificial dental substitute is under ten years. The only real solution to dental injury during sport is prevention. By wearing a mouth guard you could realistically save yourself a lifetime of dental trouble for only a few pounds.

It is possible to buy mouth guards from most sporting goods shops, but most dentists recommend you have one personally fitted. This is because an ill-fitting mouth guard can offer far less protection than a professionally fitted one. Well-placed padding and protection has no real substitute.

Wearing a mouth guard may not be the most comfortable thing in the world and you certainly aren’t going to win any style awards, but then try looking stylish with two front teeth missing. Wearing a partial denture in your mid-twenties is not a look you want to go for. It also makes good financial sense to shell out a few pounds on a mouth guard and save thousands on dental treatment. A City of London dentist will be able to fit a mouth guard in only a few minutes at your next check up and you can keep your teeth safe when playing sport.

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.

The advances in dental technology that have been made in the last twenty years are astounding. Dentists’ surgeries are unrecognisable from the intimidating clinic atmospheres of the past and today more resemble health spas. Accompanying these aesthetic changes are the technological leaps, none more so than CEREC. An abbreviation of the term CEramic REConstruction, CEREC is a cutting edge new tool that allows dentists to design, manufacture and install a new crown all in one visit, and with an incredible degree of accuracy. Using the previous laboratory construction techniques, a new crown could take several weeks to manufacture and even then could need further adjusting once in place.

CEREC works by utilising the very latest in computer aided 3D technology. Using digital imaging, the dentist is able to create an exact replica of the patient’s mouth on the computer. They are then able to digitally design a perfectly shaped and sized crown. The dentist can then instruct the computer to fabricate the new crown, once they are satisfied with the projected appearance.

The incredible manufacturing process involves sculpting the new crown from a single piece of porcelain by milling. The entire milling process can take as little as six minutes and is produced to microscopic levels of accuracy. This obvious improvement, in both accuracy and speed, has had significant benefits for patients.

CEREC technology means that replacement crowns can now look more lifelike than was previously possible, and the dentist can even select the specific shade of ceramic to match the patient’s teeth. A staining process may also be used to give it a worn appearance so that it doesn’t stand out.

As a result of this phenomenal new process, waiting times are being reduced, as are appointment times and frequencies, meaning patients spend less time in the often-feared dentist’s chair. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth that requires a crown, ask a London dentist about the very latest in dental technology.

Sometimes when a person smiles or talks there is a visible excess of pinkish gum tissue. This excess gum tissue display is more commonly known as a ‘gummy smile’. The most recent figures show that around 7 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women suffer from excess gum display when fully smiling. The condition is associated with a large upper jaw, short upper lip or an increased forward position of the two front teeth.
There are several treatments available for gummy smiles. It is most commonly corrected by periodontal surgery, but other corrective treatments include orthodontic treatment or jaw surgery. In some instances all three are used in combination.
Orthodontic treatment is usually used when the patient is still developing. Lasting one to three years, depending on the severity of the problem and the rate of growth of the patients face, orthodontic treatments are made form ceramic and metal and can either be removable or fixed. The appliances gently apply force to the required area which will lessen the visibility if the gums.
Periodontal surgery usually involves gingival reshaping or gum contouring. By removing some of the excess gum tissue with a laser it will increase the length of the crown and eliminate the gummy smile effect.
Some dentists will also consider repositioning the lips to make the gummy smile less obvious. As with all dental treatments it very much depends on the individual patient. If you think you suffer from a gummy smile consult a London dentist who will be able to inform you of the best methods of treatment.

Everyone knows the old adage ‘Look after your teeth now and they’ll last you a lifetime’. Good standards of oral hygiene and regular dental check ups can prevent massive future expenditure on dental treatment. But in these times of economic worry many don’t see going to the dentist as a priority. While in some ways this is understandable, you do have to consider what the future might hold. A few skipped visits to the dentists and you might miss the onset of tooth decay and gum disease. A few years down the line and you’re have to pay huge sums of money to have a dental bridge or a crown. A few pounds spent now could save you hundreds down the line. Speculating to accumulate, although in this case there is nothing to speculate about.

Another factor to consider is that an overall state of economic depression could increase the need to see a dentist. Stress is one of the major factors that causes bruxism, otherwise known as grinding of the teeth. This can have a serious impact on the bite and will eventually erode enamel exposing the tooth to cavity forming bacteria. Also during recessions people’s diets tend to get worse. They eat cheaper food with higher sugar content which can be very bad for the teeth.

So, although it is understandable that the dentist might not be top of the priority list, when times are tough you really can’t afford not to see a London dentist.