City of Leeds dentist produces perfect veneers using digital x-rays

November 29th, 2009

Many forms of dental surgery involve the dentist having an accurate three-dimensional image of the patient’s teeth and gums. In the past this involved making several dental moulds and using them in tandem with conventional x-ray. These would take several days to develop and cast and increased waiting times for all appointments and treatments for all patients.

Technological advances over the last twenty years are revolutionising the dental industry with one of the latest developments being the wider use of digital x-rays. Also known as digital radiography, digital x-rays involve the transfer of digital images on to a computer which allows the dentist instant access to a three-dimensional image of the patient’s teeth. This has removed the need for lengthy development, reducing appointment and waiting times. It also means these x-rays can be stored on the hard drive of the computer in the patient’s file for future reference.

This more immediate access has made a whole new set of procedures and technologies available to dentists. The new level of computerised accuracy has also had positive effects on all treatments. However, by far the most important benefit is the facilitation of crown and veneer production. Using the new digital images, the dentist is able to design and manufacture veneers in as little as six minutes, making same-day treatment possible. This process, which used to take up to three weeks, can now be accomplished in a lunch hour, and it has all been made possible by digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays are the cornerstone for a whole new form of dentistry utilising the astonishing accuracy and speed of computer-aided technology. This is the future of dentistry and it is happening today. To see what benefits this cutting edge technology could have for your teeth, make an appointment to see a City of Leeds dentist.

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Brand new smile with cosmetic dentistry from Central Leeds dentist

November 28th, 2009

Cosmetic dentistry is the process of carrying out small procedures with the aim of improving the overall aesthetic appearance of your smile, teeth and mouth. It can involve single procedures or be part of a wider plan to transform the teeth called a smile makeover. A beautiful and healthy looking smile can have enormous benefits for a person in terms of self confidence and esteem and can have positive effects on all their relationships.

There are many problems patients can have to create problems that reduce the appearance of their smile. Some of the most common issues are chipped or broken teeth, unevenly spaced or overcrowded teeth or discoloured and worn teeth. For all these problems and many other others, recent advances in dental technology has created treatments for all of them.

Patients with chipped, cracked or broken teeth can have repairs carried out to restore their smile in only one appointment using the versatile and inexpensive dental bonding. Dental bonding is a tooth-coloured resin that can be used to fill cavities and cracks or built up to restore the appearance of a chipped tooth. It is sculpted by the dentist to the desired shape and size, before being set hard with the heat of a dental laser and polished to closely resemble enamel. Bonding can also be thinly applied to cover discolouration and teeth worn down over the years by enamel erosion.

Worn or discoloured teeth can also be treated using the very latest in ceramic dental veneers and crowns. Veneers are tooth shaped and coloured caps that sit over the top of existing teeth. They are incredibly thin and lifelike and a whole dental arc of veneers can create the impression of completely new teeth. Using the latest in computer-aided design and manufacture, veneers can be made and installed in only one visit.

There are many other cosmetic dentistry procedures such as gum contouring, dental implants and braces that can all be used to enhance the cosmetic appearance of your teeth. There really is no problem too big or too small to be treated with cosmetic dentistry. If you are considering having your smile improved, make an appointment with a Central Leeds dentist to discuss which of the cosmetic procedures would be most suitable for your teeth. The dentist will also be able to give you a clear idea of how much the procedures may cost.

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Leeds dentist uses versatile cosmetic bonding to restore patient’s smile

November 27th, 2009

Cosmetic bonding, also known as dental bonding, is a process that has been widely used for years by dentists to repair minor damage to teeth and restore the appearance of a smile in only one visit. The process involves the use of tooth-coloured resin applied to the damage area which is moulded to the desired shape and set hard by a laser. Because of its pliability and versatility, cosmetic bonding is used for a wide variety of dental treatments.

One of the most common uses for dental bonding is as material for filling cavities. Dental cavities used to be filled using a material made of silver and mercury amalgam. This was very durable but over recent years has caused great controversy about its safety. Several studies have shown that silver amalgam fillings release mercury vapours that may be very damaging to the body. Silver amalgam fillings are also very aesthetically unpleasant so many patients and dentists have switched to white dental bonding. For very large fillings it may not be suitable to use dental bonding as it is weaker in larger amounts, but a dentist may be able to use a combination of bonding and a ceramic inlay.

Cosmetic bonding is also commonly used to repair chips and cracks in teeth. The resin bonding needs to be skilfully sculpted by the dentist before it is hardened using the extreme heat of the laser. Before application, the dentist will usually thoroughly clean the area before etching the enamel to allow for a greater degree of grip for the bonding resin. The bonding is often applied in several thin layers of one to two millimetres to allow for satisfactory setting. Once the bonding is activated and hardened by the laser it can then be buffed and polished by the dentist to more closely resemble tooth enamel.

Nearly all dentists offer cosmetic bonding as standard although some will specialise more in the procedure. Bonding is an extremely useful dental process that is simple and affordable and can be used to restore the appearance of broken, decayed or discoloured teeth in a single afternoon. A dentist in Leeds will be able to offer cosmetic bonding to treat any dental problem you may be experiencing or simply to replace old amalgam fillings for your peace of mind.

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Benefits of chewing gum explained by Leeds dentist

November 26th, 2009

Chewing gum is the world’s most popular habit with an incredible 100,00 tons of it being chewed each year. Previously thought of as an unpleasant habit, the traditional image of chewing gum as a nuisance that was stuck under tables and on pavements everywhere is beginning to change.

Recent studies have shown that chewing gum can have several positive benefits on the health of your teeth. Chewing after meals helps to stimulate saliva production neutralising the decay-causing plaque acids that build up in the mouth. This plaque acid is formed by toxins released by decaying bacteria and attacks the tooth enamel, eroding it and causing dental cavities. Saliva is our natural defence against plaque acid so the more of it we can produce the better. Decaying bacteria in the mouth is also responsible for 90 per cent of cases of bad breath so chewing gum helps to keep your breath fresh. Chewing can also help to relieve pressure that builds up in the jaw, ears and sinuses.

Chewing gum was previously thought of as bad for the teeth because of its high sugar content. Many gums are now available in sugar-free varieties, which stimulate saliva production ten-fold and cause no damage to the tooth enamel themselves. Saliva also contains minerals such as calcium, which can help to repair damage caused to the tooth enamel.

Dentists now recommend that chewing gum for fifteen to twenty minutes after each meal to stimulate saliva production and neutralise plaque acid. Gums with artificial sweeteners like Xylitol are particularly good for the teeth because they have no natural sugars. Leeds dentist now recognise these sugar-free gums as an important weapon in the war against tooth decay and gum disease.

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Dental check ups from City of Leeds dentist prevents dental decay

November 25th, 2009

Look after your teeth and they will last a lifetime. So the saying goes, and there really is a lot of truth in it. Caring for your teeth involves making only small sacrifices but just these few preventative measures could prevent years of misery caused by dental decay and other associated dental problems. Having problems with your teeth is no laughing matter as anyone who has had a root canal procedure will tell you but can easily be avoided by following a few simple rules.

The first rule of dental care is to brush and floss thoroughly every day. Dentists recommend that patients brush their teeth twice a day for three minutes and floss at least once a day. By doing this you help to keep plaque at bay. Plaque is a bacteria-rich substance that erodes tooth enamel causing dental decay and eventually tooth loss. By regular and effective brushing you can stop the build up of plaque and help protect your teeth. This is the most important way of maintaining good dental health.

Very close on its heels however, is keeping up regular check ups with your dentist. It is advisable to see your dentist every six months even if you are experiencing no problems with your teeth. Even the most ardent and strict tooth cleaner may be susceptible to dental decay and catching it early could be the difference between keeping and losing a tooth. Dentists are also able to examine and clean areas of the teeth that are very difficult to clean with manual brushing and flossing. These are the areas that are most at risk from dental decay, precisely because they are hard to reach.

As well as giving teeth a thorough clean, a dentist can also offer further advice on effective cleaning, treat any first signs of decay or other dental problems and examine you mouth for other dental concerns such as gum disease and oral cancer. In the world of dentistry prevention is always better than cure. Half an hour at a City of Leeds dentist every six months could save you time and money in the future and help to keep your teeth and mouth clean and healthy for a lifetime.

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The future of dentistry with CEREC from City of Leeds dentist

November 24th, 2009

The last fifty years has seen incredible progress in the use of technology in all fields. This advance can be studied in microcosm in the world of dentistry. The dentist’s surgery today is unrecognisable from the surgeries of fifty or even twenty years ago. Modern surgeries are more like health spas than hospitals and the equipment and technology available mirrors this change.

One of the newest and most incredible of these technological leaps forward is the advent of CEREC. So new that only a small number of dentists are even using it, CEREC stands for CERamic REconstruction and involves the use of computer-aided design and manufacture to create dental crowns and veneers in only a fraction of the time it previously took. CEREC has been made possible by the advent of digital x-rays and 3D imaging that allows the dentist to build up an incredibly accurate three-dimensional picture of the patient’s mouth. The dentist is then able to use this image to design microscopically accurate crowns and veneers to remedy dental problems such as tooth decay and discoloration. Once satisfied with the computer projection, the dentist can instruct a computer-guided mill to sculpt the new crown from a single piece of porcelain. This process takes an incredible six-minutes per tooth which is miraculous when you consider the old methods of manufacture. First the dentist would have to take several dental moulds and x-rays and allow several days for developing. Then the manufacturing process would take place in a laboratory and could take up to two weeks. It is now possible to have a new crown designed and fitted in your lunch hour and to a higher standard of accuracy.

CEREC technology can also be used to fabricate porcelain fillings, or inlays, to fit specifically in large dental cavities. These porcelain fillings are incredibly durable and can be matched to closely resemble the colour of the patient’s existing teeth. This colour matching process will also be used when fitting any crown or veneer.

CEREC really is the future of dentistry. It is revolutionising the dental process and reducing waiting and appointment times for all patients. Ask a City of Leeds dentist about the latest CEREC technology and you could experience the future, today.

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Central Leeds dentist offers wide range of options for braces

November 23rd, 2009

People of a certain age will naturally respond with a shudder at the thought of braces. The unseemly and uncomfortable fixed metal brackets that made it impossible to eat certain foods, made eating normal food messy and worst of all, made you stand out a mile off. Being forced to wear a brace in your teenage years, because that is when braces are most effective, always seemed like some sort of cruel irony, but luckily for this and future generations, orthodontic treatment has definitely changed.

Modern braces are almost unrecognisable from those of the past. Smaller, slicker and more discreet to the point of invisibility, the reign of the train-track metal brace is over. Today, patients are faced with a choice of many different types of treatment, all with their own distinct advantage ranging from the discreet to the ultra fast. If discretion is the top priority, retainer braces such as Invisalign offer teeth straightening with one millimetre thick clear plastic retainers that are almost invisible. They are also completely removable so can be taken out for important occasions and, crucially, for eating. By using a system of twenty or so retainers worn for two to three week periods, Invisalign offers straightening without any aesthetic damage.

For patients looking for a quick fix, after all some braces do require more than two years of treatment, revolutionary new braces such as the Inman aligner and Six-Month Smile can straighten teeth 75 per cent faster than most conventional braces. By focusing more on the teeth visible when smiling, these braces use tooth coloured titanium wires to put the finishing touches to smiles in record time. Because of the incredible straightening power of these new braces, they are increasingly being used in the run up to special occasions and are very popular with brides-to-be.

For perfectly straight results patients can use the newest version of the fixed metal brace. The Damon brace bears a slight resemblance to the old train-track braces, with the emphasis being on slight. The system uses small fixed brackets made of clear plastic and white ceramic and a revolutionary self-ligating wire that requires no tightening.

All these new braces vary in cost and suitability for each patient. A Central Leeds dentist will be able to give a further guide to prices and assess which brace would be most suitable for your teeth. What is for sure however is that thankfully dental technology has progressed and braces are no longer something to be feared.

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City of Leeds dentist restores appearance of ankylosis

November 22nd, 2009

Ankylosis is a condition in the mouth that occurs when a tooth fuses with the jawbone preventing it from erupting at the normal rate. It is a fairly common condition seen mostly in the lower molars but its exact causes are unknown. The ankylosed tooth does not emerge properly, giving it a submerged appearance which also causes other teeth to emerge in incorrect positions.

Recent research into ankylosis has found that one to three per cent of children suffer from the condition with one or more primary teeth. Other studies put that percentage at nearly 40 highlighting the difficulties caused by ankylosis, namely that because it is not understood it is very difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat. What is certain however is that ankylosis can occur during any stage of the eruption of permanent teeth.

Although ankylosis is notoriously difficult to diagnose, certain signs are easier to spot than others. A submerged tooth mirrored by an overgrown tooth on the opposite dental arc is a tell-tale sign. Many dentists attempt to diagnose ankylosed teeth by tapping the enamel, as they resonate differently to normal teeth. Suspected ankylosed teeth can be x-rayed and repositioned by dental surgery if necessary. A City of Leeds dentist will examine the possible effects of the ankylosed tooth before making any decisions to move it. It is important to consider all options as ankylosed teeth can cause extremely painful alterations to bite, which can lead to jaw, head and neck pain.

Dentists will usually be able to spot ankylosis over the course of several dental check ups as they watch the teeth develop. For this reason it is important that children and young adults with emerging teeth regularly see a dentist to monitor this and other dental conditions.

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Join the dental revolution with Six-Month Smile braces from Leeds dentist

November 21st, 2009

Six-Month Smile braces represent a genuine alternative for patients wishing to straighten their teeth without the arduous prospect of having to wear uncomfortable and ugly fixed metal bracket braces for months on end. Patients wanting to put the finishing touches to a slightly off-centre smile can now do so in as little as six months. That’s right, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Six-Month Smile braces can be used to treat a variety of orthodontic concerns including overcrowding, uneven spacing and all forms of bite issues. Unlike the traditional fixed metal braces, the wires are small and discreet. In fact, they are usually tooth-coloured for an extra degree of discretion. Six-Month braces may not be able to compete with invisible retainer braces for complete discretion, but they certainly make up for this with incredible speed of treatment. They provide an average treatment time 75 per cent shorter than that of most other forms of orthodontic treatment. This makes Six-Month braces ideal for patients wanting rapid teeth straightening and is particularly popular with brides-to-be eager to look as perfect as possible on their wedding day. Six-Month braces also cost about half the price of most invisible retainers making the decision a fairly simple one for most people.

Treatment usually involves being assessed by a dentist, during a preliminary appointment to judge suitability. Once this has been established, a dentist will fit the Six-Month braces, manufactured in the special Six-Month laboratory in the United States. The braces require short ten to fifteen minute appointments with the dentist every month for tightening and adjustment. Like most orthodontic procedures, Six-Month braces will be slightly uncomfortable at first but his will usually pass within the first week. After that the braces rarely cause any further discomfort to wearers.

The Six-Month treatment is an exciting new development in orthodontic treatment that has revolutionised brace wearing in the US. Thousands of patients have gone through the treatment program with stunning results and finally the Six-Month treatment is available to patients in the UK. The revolutionary titanium wires are able to achieve such stunning and quick results by focusing solely on the teeth visible when smiling. Make an appointment with a Leeds dentist to discuss the further benefits of Six-Month smile braces and to gain a more detailed guide to costing.

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City of Leeds dentist saves tooth with root canal treatment

November 20th, 2009

No dental surgery is more feared than the dreaded root canal treatment. The sound of the dentist drill is synonymous with this eye-watering procedure. That’s the perceived impression anyway, but the reality is somewhat different. A root canal treatment is one of the most important procedures in dentistry. It can make the difference between saving a tooth and losing it. More importantly, if you ask anybody who has suffered form an infected tooth, they will tell you just how painful it can be and how much of a relief it is when a root canal brings an end to that pain. So ignore the drill and the horror stories and give the root canal a little credit.

Root canals are necessary when a dental cavity has penetrated to the root of the tooth which has then become infected. The pulp, or dentine, inside the tooth is eaten away by the infection, which then sets to work on the ultra-sensitive nerve endings in the middle of the tooth. A root canal enables the dentist to get inside the tooth and remove all the infected material and the nerve endings, to bring and end to the infection and the pain. If allowed to develop the pain might stop when the nerve ending is dead but the infection can spread to other teeth and even into the bloodstream. You will also be left with a dead tooth that will more than likely drop out at some point.

The whole procedure will take place under a local anaesthetic which should make it no more painful than any other type of filling. When the infection has been removed and cleaned up, the dentist will then fill the cavity with a mix of resin and medicine to prevent the infection returning. The rest of the cavity is filled and then a crown usually placed over the top to help maintain the strength of the tooth.

The patient may experience some pain or numbness for a few days after the procedure but this will pass and can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers. The root canal treatment has a bad reputation, which may have something to do with how operations were performed in the past. But in the present and the availability of the latest technology, the root canal is a standard procedure and one that might save you a lot of pain. If you are suffering from toothache or think you may have an infection, as a City of Leeds dentist about root canal treatments.

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