Brushing and flossing remove plaque from the surface of enamel, which prevents the release of dangerous plaque acid which breaks down enamel. Over time this acid will eventually penetrate the tooth enamel and allow bacteria to get to the more sensitive parts of the teeth on the inside. This softer material is called dentine and is more easily eroded than tooth enamel. Beneath this is the pulp and dental nerve which form the living and feeling part of the tooth. As you might imagine, if a bacterial infection takes hold in the inner part of the tooth it can be very painful and also result in the death and eventual loss of the tooth.

However, there are a number of ways that London dentists can stop it reaching this point. On the simplest level, having a check up regularly will help to keep plaque at bay and dentists will also remove any accumulated tartar that has solidified on the teeth. This limits the damage that can be done to the enamel. If things are more progressed it is possible for the dentist to replace the eroded enamel with either dental bonding or with a dental veneer. These are both very lifelike and will retain the appearance of the tooth while protecting it at the same time. Dentists can also repair teeth using dental crowns and with root canal treatments, both of which can save an otherwise doomed tooth. If you are suffering from painful or eroded teeth, make an appointment with your London dentist now to see how they can be repaired.

Lumineers have improved upon the traditional veneer in the sense that they are thinner and stronger. This means they require less preparatory work before application and are less likely to chip and crack in the mouth. Only about the same width as a contact lens, Lumineers require minimal enamel removal before application, one of the most common drawbacks of traditional veneers. Dentists are always reluctant to remove otherwise healthy enamel and now, with these new forms of dental caps, they simply don’t have to. Not only can Lumineers fit over existing teeth, they can also be applied to teeth with previous restorations such as crowns. This is especially good news for patients and dentists because these can often be very hard to remove.

Lumineers are able to completely transform a smile, even one that has been badly affected by staining and enamel erosion. Manufactured at a special laboratory in the US, they are the very latest in dental technology and represent the future of veneer technology. With appropriate brushing and flossing, Lumineers are capable of lasting as long as twenty years before they will need replacing, and although they may cost slightly more than traditional veneers, the results are worth it. Find out about Lumineers at your next appointment.

However, with the introduction of Cerec in the last few years all of this has changed. This new technology has radically cut the amount of time it takes to manufacture new dental replacements, allowing dentists to design, manufacture and fix dental restorations in a single appointment.

How is this possible you may ask yourself? Using new technology such as digital x-rays and three-dimensional imaging, dentists can build a microscopically accurate picture of the patient’s teeth on a computer. They can then use this image to design the crown or veneer. Once this design is complete and the City of London dentist is happy with it. They can then instruct a computer to begin the manufacture process. The computer guides a mill which whittles a piece of porcelain into the desired shape.

It is possible to create a completely new dental crown in as little as six minutes per tooth. When you think about the amount of manufacturing time, patients waiting time and treatment time this is saving it really does start to feel like a dental revolution has arrived. You can learn more about Cerec at your next dental appointment by asking your dentist.

The bonding is made of a resin that can be mixed skilfully to closely resemble the exact colour of the existing teeth. This makes it ideal for repairing small chips and cracks and also as a cement for attaching veneers, crowns and dental inlays. Bonding can also be used to fill dental cavities and is increasingly being preferred to the old, controversial silver-amalgam fillings. Bonding can also be used to cover teeth that have been stained or discoloured due to age or lifestyle as an alternative to the more costly porcelain veneers.

The application of dental bonding usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour and is relatively straightforward. Teeth are etched and roughened using a very diluted acid, this gives the surface and extra grip before it is cleaned and ready for bonding. The Central London dentist will then apply the bonding, sculpting it to the desired shape. Intense heat is then used to set the bonding hard making it very tough and resilient.

Dental bonding is very affordable and effective, which explains why it is very popular with both dentists and patients and usually costs between £30 and £100 per tooth. Bonding will last anything between 4 and 10 years but will usually lean towards the longer end of that timescale.

One of the most common dental problems is discolouration either due to age or from an outside source such as tobacco or an excess of fluoride. Teeth that have lost their colour or been stained can now be treated using a variety of different whitening systems, designed to meet specific needs. Alternatively, it is possible to cover discoloured teeth with a set of porcelain veneers which are cemented over the original teeth.

Veneers can also be used to repair teeth that have been damaged by chips or cracks. The veneer acts as a protective barrier and structural support to the tooth and restores the cosmetic procedure. For more seriously damaged teeth London dentists may choose to use a crown, which is a more solid and extensive variety of a veneer. Both crowns, veneers and dental inlays can now be made using the very latest computer technology which has radically improved both the quality and length of treatment. In fact, it is now possible to design and fit a whole set of veneers in a single appointment.

There is a list of possible dental treatments too long to name here but rest assured that whatever your particular dental concern there is a dental procedure available that can restore or improve the appearance of your teeth. And as treatments become more available they also become more affordable. Make an appointment with your dentist to see what they could do for your teeth.

Crowns are required for many reasons in dentistry. If a tooth has been weakened either because of a chip, crack or break a crown can be used to place over the remaining tooth to protect it from further damage. The crown therefore prevents the need for removal of the tooth and carries out all its natural functions.

Dentists also use crowns to hold in place fillings required due to tooth decay or root canal procedures. This extra security provided by a crown can prevent the need for any future dental treatment.

Crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons. Teeth that are worn or unevenly spaced can be covered with specially designed, incredibly thin crowns which provide the appearance of healthy and well sized teeth. These thin crowns are a result of the advances in dental technology and can even be designed with a translucent appearance similar to that of real enamel. Computer aided technology has also significantly reduced the time needed to manufacture and install a crown. Using the latest digital imaging and 3D technology a dentist can design and manufacture a crown, using a computer guided mill, in as little as six minutes from a single piece of porcelain. This is an astonishing improvement on the days or even weeks of laboratory construction.

Dental crowns also now require less preparation than previously needed. Because they can be manufactured accurately and still be thin, not as much enamel needs to be removed to fix them. If you are suffering from a damaged or discoloured tooth ask a London dentist about the latest technology in the world of porcelain crowns.