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

There are two main types of veneers that can be placed over the top of damaged or discoloured teeth to restore the cosmetic appearance of a smile. Composite veneers are made of a resin and are made in laboratory or even constructed in the mouth during an appointment. The other type of veneer is made entirely from porcelain and is cemented over the top of teeth using dental bonding.

Although composite veneers are cheaper, they do not look nearly as realistic as a porcelain veneer which are specially designed to resemble tooth enamel. Composite veneers are more suitable for individual teeth that are damaged or for repairing small cracks or chips. When it comes to replacing a whole dental arc that has been damaged by staining or discolouration there really is only one option. Also, as technology advances, new tools are being developed to speed up the manufacturing process of porcelain veneers and with technology such as digital x-rays and Cerec, it is now possible to sculpt veneers from a single piece of porcelain in a matter of minutes.

Other modern porcelain veneers are incredibly thin, some the same width as a contact lens, which can be fitted over the teeth with no enamel removal and can be completely removed themselves should the need arise. They are in fact so thin that they can fit over existing veneers and other dental repair work.

As well as completely restoring the appearance of damaged teeth, porcelain veneers from a Colchester dentist also play an important protective role. Acting as a second layer of enamel they protect the teeth from decay adding another important barrier to tooth decay. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.