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Archive for July, 2012

Make Your Teeth Shine with Teeth Whitening in the City of Leeds.

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

The possibilities of teeth whitening get greater every year. There are now many effective ways of getting back your bright, white smile. With varying effectiveness, there are now many products available over the counter that can help to maintain white teeth or remove unsightly stains and blemishes. While these can be effective to some degree as a preventative measure, your City of Leeds dentist will be able to offer you the most effective solutions.

Several new products, for both at the dentist and at home, are now available to help with teeth whitening. Zoom teeth whitening is a gel that is applied directly to the teeth and bleaches the enamel and dentin to a white colour, in the process hiding any stains or discolouration. Enlighten teeth whitening is also able to restore the whiteness of your teeth, so your smile shines bright.

In more serious instances of discoloured teeth you may be interested in veneers. These involve the removal of a layer of enamel, on top very fine slices of porcelain are then placed over the top. Your teeth will then have the bright, white of porcelain. This procedure is generally only recommended when your teeth are discoloured beyond repair.

Speak to you dentist about exactly which of the many products available would be right for your needs. Alongside these treatments it is advised that you limit coffee, wine, smoking and other staining activities in order to reduce the need for whitening in the future.

How can CAD/CAM Technology in Dentistry Help You in Leeds?

Thursday, July 19th, 2012

Used for many decades in the manufacturing industry, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) have been developed into highly effected tools for dentists in the last 20 years. Continued developments in the technology now allow patients to receive fast, effective custom-fitted parts for dental care, be it crowns, veneers, bridges, implants and many other things.

Using a mixture of moulds, x-rays and photographs taken by your dentist, CAD/CAM technology in dentistry can now be used to build dental components to your exact specifications. Normally constructed out of composite resins, dentists can use the technology to treat a wide range of different dental problems. Once the dental component is produced your Leeds dentist will then be able to install it and give you back full function and appearance after you have suffered from any dental injuries or conditions.

Dentists with the technology within the offices are beginning to be able to offer incredibly fast services that would have previously taken many weeks of waiting. Although the CAD/CAM technology is now very powerful, it is important that it is operated by a professional dentist who know what to look for the and how to fix any problems. When available your dentist will suggest the use of CAD/CAM technologies to help you, they will not be appropriate for all situations and it is best to listen to the advice of your dentist. Although costs of using this technology used to be high, they are quickly reducing as the it becomes more prevalent and efficient.

Wisdom Teeth Coming Through? City of Leeds Dentist Discusses Options

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Normally appearing between the ages of 18 and 25, wisdom are the final teeth to fully develop. All people possess wisdom teeth, though many people will never notice their appearance. Some people will suffer from impacted wisdom teeth when there is not enough space in the mouth for the wisdom teeth to fit. When this occurs it will likely be necessary to visit your City of Leeds dentist to have the wisdom teeth removed.

Wisdom teeth become impacted in different ways depending on the angle at which they grow. Wisdom teeth growing forwards are referred to as mesial impactions. Vertical impaction is when the teeth attempt to grow upwards but are blocked by other teeth. And sideways growing teeth are called horizontal impactions. Distal impaction occurs when the wisdom tooth grows in the opposite direction to the teeth on either side. Your dentist will be able to diagnose which of these you may be suffering from, and will be able to operate in the appropriate way to fix the teeth.

The arrival of your wisdom teeth may be accompanied by some pain. Visit your dentist to check they are developing in the correct manner and they may be able to help with the pain. Having your wisdom teeth checked early means you and the dentist have a wider range of options in dealing with them. It may well be the case that there is enough room for the wisdom teeth and it is safe and healthy to let the teeth develop naturally.

Aching Jaw? Speak to Leeds Dentist about TMJ.

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

Connecting your jaw to the your skull, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is vitally important for all forms of jaw movement: speaking, chewing, swallowing, etc. The name of the joint is derived from the two bones that connect: temporal and mandible. Although the joint is in constant use, we rarely give it a second thought until there is a problem. Many people though, at some point in their lives, will suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), or TMJ syndrome. It is a common condition that is normally characterised by chronic pain and heightened sensitivity in the area of the TMJ.

Alongside the pain and sensitivity, may TMJD sufferers will have hyperactivity in the jaw, this will normally manifest as the clenching of the jaw (‘bruxism’), facial twitches and distortions, and grinding your teeth when asleep. While these symptoms do not pose a major risk in the short term it is very important to have the problem checked out by your Leeds dentist as over the medium/long term clenching and grinding can cause serious problems to your teeth. A range of other symptoms may also indicate TMJD, from discomfort chewing, jaw popping, facial aches and headaches.

Depending on the specifics of the case, your doctor will suggests some treatments or refer to you to a specialist doctor. Stretching and massaging the jaw muscles can provide some relief from the symptoms but it will still be necessary to seek medical advice to address the underlying issues.

City of Leeds Dentist Offers Dental Bonding to Repair Broken Teeth

Monday, July 16th, 2012

New composite resins are capable of fixing numerous dental problems with dental bonding. Whether you have a gap between your teeth, a tooth knocked out, a root exposed or many other issues, dental bonding may be able to fix you up. Your City of Leeds dentist can fix problems with composite resin in a quick and efficient manner, without needing to use crowns, veneers or fillings. If you have a problem, book an appointment now to see whether dental bonding can help you.

Often only taking one visit to the dentist, dental bonding materials can be used to fill in chipped or cracked teeth. The flexibility of the material will allow the dentist to manipulate the bonding into a shape and size that fills the crack or chip. Used as a natural looking alternative to silver amalgam, dental bonding with composite resin can be used as a filling when cavities develop in your teeth. As a filling, dental bonding will normally have a shorter life span of metal fillings but have a wide range of white shades to perfectly match your natural teeth colour, making them all but invisible. With the receding of gums in old age many people face the risks of damaging an exposed root, dental bonding allows the root to covered and protected.

The procedure is generally quick and involves the filling down of the affected area and the bonding of the resin directly onto the tooth. The life span of dental bonding is heavily dependent on the location of the bonding, but start with a minimum of two years up to ten. Your dentist will help you decide whether this is the best course for you.

Central Leeds Highlights Causes of Teeth Discolouration.

Sunday, July 15th, 2012

Dull teeth? Lost their shine? Teeth discolouration happens to most people with time but there are some things that can be done prevent it and treat it. Alcohol, coffee, tea, fizzy and juice drink will all stain your teeth over time when drunk and are normally the main factor in the discolouration of teeth. This staining can appear as isolated blotches of brown or grey colouring, or as general discolouration of the entire tooth. The tar that is inhaled when smoking will eventually turn your teeth yellow and grey with time, as well as causing numerous adverse health effects.

Some diseases can also cause a discolouration of your teeth, especially in young children. Medications can also be a contributing factor, including some antibiotics. If you are experiencing teeth discolouration and currently ill or under medication you should speak to your dentist or doctor about possible ways of dealing with it. Some dental treatments can also have an adverse effect on tooth colour, including some filling materials such as silver amalgam and too high levels of fluoride can all darken the colour of teeth.

If you are experiencing mild tooth discolouration there is a fair chance there will be no serious medical reasons and it is a purely cosmetic issue. Speak to your Central Leeds dentist about any worries you may have. They will be able to offer several options for returning a bright, white smile to your face. From teeth whitening tooth pastes and treatments, to using veneers there is a wide range of possibilities to get your teeth white again.

Looking for a Natural Approach? Leeds Dentist Talks about Herbal Teeth Remedies

Saturday, July 14th, 2012

While modern technology offers us many new and exciting ways to protect, fix and improve out teeth and gums, there are a wide range of natural herbal teeth remedies that can be highly effective, and gentler on the body, at helping with dental issues. Many people worry about the increased number of chemical that we ingest into our bodies every day, natural remedies will often be softer on the body on the long term, so when possible it is worth exploring what herbal remedies might be able to do for you.

Combating gum disease can be done with aloe vera and tea tree oil, gently applying small quantities may help to reduce swelling and fight infection. Some dentists also suggest calendula or Echinacea as another remedy for sore gums when your mouth is washed out with a dilution of the herb essence. Sores and ulcers may be helped by applying small quantities of lavender oil and rosemary. Around the world many people chew on parsley or liquorice after eating to offer quick relief from bad breath.

As with any form of medical treatment, when you have a problem it is important to still visit your Leeds dentist to ask their advice on how herbal remedies might help you. Herbal remedies is just one method of maintaining good dental health and when necessary you should look at all the options available.

Raise Your Confidence with Smile Makeovers from your City of Leeds Dentist

Friday, July 13th, 2012

Your smile presents your personality to the world. Hiding your smile will make it hard to connect with people and enjoy life. If you don’t think your smile does you justice you should talk to your City of Leeds dentist about getting a smile makeover. Growing in popularity, the cosmetic smile makeover can give you new life and confidence by slightly altering the teeth, gums and lips to form the smile that suits you.

There is no one single treatment that is a smile makeover. Each person has the possibility of utilising a wide range of procedures to fit their own unique specifications. If you have severely damaged or broken teeth your dentist may offer you bridges or dentures as a replacement. Crooked and misaligned teeth can be made straight with the right type of bracers. New composite resin can be used in a variety of ways to fix and improve numerous dental problems. Coffee, wine and soft drinks can stain your teeth over time, the discolouration can fade the natural white colour into a dull, murky shade. Your dentist can use veneers or whitener to give you back a bright, white colour.

The length of time the process will take is completely dependent on the amount of work you which to have done. The best place to start is with a consultation with your local dentist. Together you can talk through all the possibilities that are on offer and you’ll have the opportunity to discuss any queries you may have. A new you is just round the corner with a smile makeover.

 

Gum Contouring Available from Central Leeds Dentist

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

Gum contouring is a relatively new procedure that allows the reshaping of someone’s gum with the purpose of showing less of it when they smile. Gummy smiles affect a lot of people, while many have no problems, other may want it to be altered, it is an individual decision for each person and you should spend time thinking it through if you are considering it.

With a local anaesthetic, your dentist will make an incision above your gum line. Your gum line can then be moved further down (or up in the case of the bottom) the teeth. Above the gum line the root of your teeth are now exposed. Removing a piece of the lining of your mouth your dentist is able to transplant that piece of soft tissue into this new gap. Since the procedure is done very quickly all the tissue remains alive and will, with time, reconnect into a single piece of tissue as the blood vessels develop. After a recovery period your gums will look completely natural, the transplanted piece of soft tissue will be indistinguishable from the rest of your gums.

When recovering it is important to brush the gum line very gently, as to not slow the healing process. Smoking should be forgone during the recovery period due to the highly increased risk of infection. For a few weeks there may be some mild inflammation and tenderness of the gums, your dentist may prescribe you medication if they deem it necessary. Your Central Leeds dental practice will be able to answer all your questions regarding gum contouring and help you decide with the process if right for you.

City of Leeds Dentist Warns of Danger of Tooth Abscess

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Tooth abscess’ are an unpleasant experience, especially for the squeamish. An abscess is the build of pus that occurs with infections within the gums. Your dentist will need to drain the pus and clean out the infection in a minor operation that is normally done under local anaesthetic, although general anaesthetic may be used in highly serious cases.

If your gums are swollen, painful, and red, or it becomes painful to eat, talk or generally move your mouth, you should visit your City of Leeds dentist to have a check up in case you have developed a tooth abscess. Your dentist will quickly be able to diagnose a tooth abscess if that is the problem. Your dentist may suggest that root canal surgery is the best method for solving an abscessed tooth. This procedure will involve your dentist drilling down into the infected tooth in order to reach the infection, and drain the pus. They will then be able to remove the infection, including the root if it has been affected. If necessary, when the infection has spread deeply, your dentist may recommend the complete removal of the infected tooth. If this is the case, they will also suggest various forms of artificial tooth as a replacement. To stop the recurrence of the infection the dentist may proscribe antibiotics.

Obviously if you can prevent these occurrences you will not have to go through surgery. Regularly brushing your teeth at least twice a day; doing interdental cleaning with floss; frequent check ups with your dentist; each of these will help prevent the occurrence of abscessed teeth and help your dentist catch them early if they do occur.