Basildon dentists are currently using new technologies that are constantly being introduced into the world of dentistry. Technology is advancing at an incredible rate with tools like dental lasers making surgery more comfortable and improving recovery times. But perhaps the most significant new tool in the dentistry field is the digital x-ray. This has facilitated a number of pioneering new dental treatments and made many existing dental procedures much more efficient.

Digital x-rays possess several major advantages over conventional x-rays. The most obvious advantage is the time taken to process the image. Traditional x-rays need to be developed like photographs in a laboratory. This takes time and can cause problems with under or overexposure. It often meant that at times, the images are less than perfectly clear making diagnosis and treatment slightly tricky. New digital x-rays can be processed immediately and displayed on a computer screen right in front of the dentist. The images are very clear and very accurate and allow the dentist to use or save the image in the patients file.

Another major advantage comes in the area of safety. Digital x-rays use about 80 per cent less radiation than the old style x-ray machines which makes them less damaging to both patients and the dentists who use them every day. This has managed to alleviate one of the most common dangers of using x-rays.

Digital x-rays have also made possible the emergence of chair-side dentistry. The speed these images can be produced combined with other computer guided machinery means that dentists are now able to manufacture and fit dental restorations such as crowns and veneers in only a single appointment. This has vastly improved both the speed and accuracy of treatment. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford

The future of cosmetic dentistry has finally arrived in the shape of new technology from Cerec. Also commonly known as ‘chair-side restoration’, Cerec has revolutionised the way dentists are able to manufacture and fit ceramic restorations such as dental crowns, porcelain veneers and inlays for fillings.

In the past, if a patient needed a dental crown to repair a tooth damaged by decay or accidental damage then a dentist would need to take several dental moulds as well as a series of x-rays. The x-rays would take several hours or days to develop and the dental moulds were not always completely accurate. They would then need to construct a crown or inlay for the patient’s tooth in a laboratory using the x-rays and the moulds. This involved making a layered metal and porcelain restoration that could often take days or weeks and even then still require minor adjustments.

Cerec technology allows the dentist to take several digital x-rays, which can produce three-dimensional images almost instantaneously on a computer screen. This allows the dentist to create a perfectly fitting crown or veneer on the computer. Then comes the really incredible bit, when the dentist sends this information to a computer-guided mill, which can sculpt a new crown or veneer from a single piece of porcelain in a mater of minutes. All of this can be achieved in little more than an hour per tooth for a crown and significantly less for veneers. Combined with the use of resin bonding, it is possible for a patient to have a crown designed, manufactured and installed in a single appointment at a Braintree dentist. Compared to the old methods of crown dentistry, Cerec represents a huge leap forward and expect to see this technology in all dentist surgeries in the near future. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

Sporting injuries and car accidents are some of the most common causes of head traumas that lead to dental injuries. Chipped, cracked or broken teeth can be very painful and responsible for years of subsequent dental problems if not treated correctly. One option for fixing a damaged tooth is to use composite resin. This involves making a tooth-coloured resin and applying it to the damaged area. When sculpted into the desired shape a dentist will set the resin firm with the intense heat of a laser. Dental bonding is tough and durable but on certain occasions the damage may be too great to treat with bonding. For example, if the structural integrity of the tooth has been damaged then no amount of dental bonding will be able to save it. In this instance, the dentist will need to repair the tooth using a dental crown. A crown is a ceramic cap that fits over the top of a damaged tooth, protecting it from any further damage while simultaneously restoring its aesthetic appearance.

Dental crowns have a variety of uses in dentistry and are used for more than just repairing damaged teeth. Crowns are also often used to hold dental fillings in place as well as to cover repair work from procedures such as root canal surgery. A crown can be an invaluable defence against further damage to weakened teeth.

Dental crowns are commonly made from porcelain, a type of ceramic that resembles the translucent appearance of tooth enamel. Modern crowns are manufactured with the use of computer-aided technology. Dentists use the very latest in 3D and digital x-ray technology to project an exact image of the patient’s teeth. They can then use a computer to design and manufacture a dental crown from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This new computer process has removed the need for extensive dental moulds and x-rays which increased the treatment time involved in a dental crown. Computer manufacture has also radically improved treatment time and accuracy.

A Dental crown is an effective way of keeping teeth that may have otherwise been lost. They can strengthen a weakened tooth and restore its original appearance. If you have a damaged tooth or a filling that is loose and causing you pain, make an appointment to see a Chelmsford dentist and ask about the benefits of dental crowns.

Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation.

Dental bonding is one of the most straightforward and easily affordable of the cosmetic dentistry procedures and is used to repair damage caused by chipped, cracked or broken teeth. It is also being increasingly used to repair cosmetic problems such as unevenly spaced, badly worn or discoloured teeth. In the last twenty years it has also replaced silver amalgam as the filling material of choice to repair cavities.

Dental bonding, also known as cosmetic bonding, is made from a resin and can be coloured to closely match the colour of existing teeth. The resin can be made up on the spot by a dentist and does not require laboratory conditions necessary to manufacture crowns and veneers. This is the reason that dental bonding is so cheap when compared to other cosmetic dentistry treatments. It also means that treatment times are significantly shorter. In fact, unless there is a large area that requires bonding, most treatments can be carried out in only one visit to the dentist.

Unless being applied to a particularly sensitive area such as an exposed cavity, dental bonding is also completely pain-free. It is very rare that a patient will need any kind of anaesthetic before a dental bonding treatment.

Dental bonding is applied by the dentist to the require area and sculpted into the required shape. When satisfied the dentist will use the intense heat of a laser to set the bonding hard. When set the bonding is very durable and resistant to staining. For badly worn or discoloured teeth, dental bonding can completely transform their appearance in as little as a couple of hours and will cost far less than a set of veneers.

Due to its versatility and affordability, dental bonding is a popular choice with both patients and dentists. Basildon dentists are using dental bonding more and more to repair damaged teeth and improve the cosmetic appearance of others. Ask your dentist in Basildon about the possibilities of dental bonding and find out what it could do for you. Call 01245 268 494 to make an appointment with Dr Moore for a free consultation.