One of the main reasons that people give for not going to the dentist as often as they should is that they are too busy. It is a fact of modern life that we all seem to be working more and have greater pressures to look after our families and keep up with social engagements and hobbies too. It’s no wonder then that some think they don’t have the time to go to the dentist. But visits to the surgery even to have advanced treatments are now easier to fit in because of advances in technology.

One of these advances is having a big impact on dentistry. It involves the shift away from traditional methods of carrying out x-rays to new digital x-rays. A number of dental procedures require dentists to take x-rays of their patients’ mouths so that they can see easily beneath the gum, for example. The problem with the traditional x-ray is that every image taken has to be developed by a lab. This could add to the costs of treatment and patients might have to wait a few days for the results allowing the dentist to proceed.

This was compounded if different views were required. Being only two dimensional, traditional x-rays would have to be redone from different angles. New digital x-rays, however, are three dimensional and what’s more, once your dentist has taken an image, it is immediately available there in the surgery with no need to wait for the lab to finish its developmental process.

As you can see, these changes are hugely beneficial for patients who simply haven’t got the time for lengthy and repeated visits to the surgery. Your Basildon dentist will be delighted to talk you through the changes in the way that x-rays are taken and what it all means for you. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

If it has been a while since you last visited your local dentist or you have been lucky enough not to require any treatment for a while then you might just be amazed about the new ways in which dentistry is able to be practiced. Like many aspects of the modern world, dentistry is being changed by the dazzling array of new technology which is on offer. And it is you, the patient who gets to reap all the benefits.

Many people put off going to the dentist to get that badly needed work done because they feel they simply don’t have the time. This is perfectly understandable with people working longer hours and families to look after. There hardly seems time for anything anymore! But CEREC technology means that many dental practices can now be carried out with breath taking swiftness that just wouldn’t have seem possible a few years ago.

Just take x-rays as an example. Dentists often need to get different views on one particular tooth or area of the mouth. With the traditional x-ray, this would mean that several different x-rays would have to be taken; a laborious process as every individual x-ray would have to be sent off for development in a lab. CEREC techniques use digital x-rays which are three dimensional, thus eliminating the need for repeated images to be taken.

These digital images can be used in conjunction with online technology so that things like porcelain dental veneers and crowns can be fitted very quickly indeed. The three dimensional data can be sent to online milling machines which make the products in little over five minutes. Your Basildon dentist will be delighted to explain all the changes and what they might mean for you and your mouth. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

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.