If you ask dentists in central London how they would suggest remedying to crooked teeth in the mouth, it’s a pretty good bet that most of them would advocate some form of brace or aligner. But for the person who has the crooked teeth, especially the older person, a long drawn out period of orthodontic treatment is very unappealing, some wouldn’t even entertain the idea. So for those people, there is an alternative, the option of having a veneer, which would only take a few weeks to do. Now of course, this depends on just how crooked the teeth are, but it’s worth investigating with your dentist about the possibility. One of the reasons dentists have reservations about this method is that it involves a lot of, some would say, ‘unnecessary’ removal of the tooth’s surface in some cases, so that the veneer can be cemented into place. But on the flip side of the argument, the veneer will restore the straightness to the look of the tooth very quickly; coupled with the fact that veneers look very beautiful and are very strong and durable. If you are in this situation of having crooked teeth, you should definitely explore the possibilities of curing the problem with a veneer.

Cracking or chipping a tooth can be a painful experience, especially if it is part of an accident which affects the mouth. Once any pain has gone though, you will have to live with the look of a cracked tooth in your mouth. It might not seem like much but it can really affect your self confidence if you have a cracked tooth in the front of your mouth all the time. One way of dealing with the problem is to get it covered up with a dental veneer.

These clever devices restore the natural look of your mouth and conceal any teeth which don’t look right. Some modern veneers are so thin that they can easily be accommodated onto a tooth without any of it having to be removed in the process. There are different brands of veneer available through your dentist but it might depend which companies they are registered with. They offer different things and are priced differently. They also have different life spans, which is something worth considering as these can range from three years to twenty years.

Dentists can now fit veneers onto your cracked or chipped tooth with great speed thanks to new technologies. Digital x-rays combined with the internet allow dentists to have porcelain dental veneers in their surgery in less than ten minutes after they have been sculpted by online milling machines.

All City of London dentists will have the requisite information about dental veneers if you are considering getting one or more installed. Many patients have reported that their self confidence has improved no end after their unsightly tooth has been covered up. You could have the same!

Dental crowns and veneers play a very large part in cosmetic and restorative dentistry and have done for many years. However, one of the main drawbacks of crowns and veneers has always been the difficult and complex way in which they had to be manufactured. Once the dentist had taken the various dental moulds and x-rays, the new crowns would need to be designed and manufactured in lab. This could involve up to two weeks of lengthy enamel layering to produce a final result that would be accurate but sill susceptible to flaws.

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.

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.