Dr. David S Brown

What is Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneers are a very versatile cosmetic dental treatment that is relatively conservative. The beauty of having veneers fitted at our Leeds surgery is that relatively little tooth structure needs to be removed. In fact sometimes it may not be necessary to remove any tooth structure, depending on the position of the tooth and the type of veneer.

They are perfect for disguising a wide variety of defects as they can be used to close up or minimise gaps in between the teeth, they can disguise stains or discoloured teeth, and can correct slight chips and cracks. They can also be used to realign slightly crooked teeth, and make a good alternative to having orthodontic treatment. If you have teeth that are slightly misshapen or too small then veneers can be the perfect way to create a more pleasing appearance.

You can choose to have just one or two porcelain veneers fitted to mask specific defects in teeth, or they can be used as part of a smile makeover. This means they might be used in combination with other dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, dental implants Leeds or other crown and bridge work, although people with only minor imperfections in their teeth may find them perfect as a standalone treatment.

If they are to be used for a smile makeover, and you are having a substantial number of veneers, then it’s possible to pick a shade that’s a little lighter than your natural teeth. Anyone using veneers for this purpose is likely to require 8 to 10 veneers on their upper teeth, and approximately 8 on the lower teeth. The exact number depends on how many teeth you can see when you smile.

What Exactly Is a Veneer and What’s the Procedure for Having One?

A veneer is a very thin slip of porcelain that is designed to fit exactly over the front of your teeth, and possibly the top part of your tooth used for biting. It is relatively strong once cemented into position, but you do need to take care of it and treat it in the same way as you would your natural teeth.

Dr. David Brown or another dentist in Leeds will need to prepare the teeth for the veneers. This usually involves removing a small amount of material from the front of the tooth as the average veneer is around 0.5 mm thick. Once the teeth have been prepared an impression is taken of your teeth and sent to our dental laboratory so that the veneers can be constructed. This generally takes about two weeks. Afterwards you’ll be able to return to our Leeds surgery for fitting. The veneers will be tried in to make sure they fit accurately, and that they look good. At this stage it’s important you’re sure you like the way they look as minor alterations can still be made. Once you’re happy with the appearance of your new teeth, then they’ll be permanently cemented into place.

One thing to take into consideration with porcelain veneers in Leeds is that if you do have material removed from your teeth it can never be replaced. This means you’ll need to budget to replace the veneers at regular intervals. Some people are suitable for a different type of veneer, sometimes called no prep veneers. These don’t require the removal of any tooth material as the veneers are ultrathin. The beauty of this system is that you can always choose to have the veneers removed without needing to replace them.

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

Which Type of Filling is best?

Dental decay is one of the most common oral diseases, and it is important to fill cavities as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the teeth. Dental fillings are a restorative dental treatment that helps the tooth return to full function, and the latest materials are designed to be extremely conservative, requiring only the decayed tooth material to be removed by your dentist. Leeds City Dental Care offers patients quite a few options for filling teeth, but the final choice may be down to the location of your tooth, and the size of the filling. It’s something Dr. David Brown or one of our other dentists will discuss with you at the time. Nowadays most people opt for tooth coloured fillings simply because they’re more cosmetically pleasing. In the past and these types of fillings might not been suitable for large areas of decay, but advancements in technology mean that just about all teeth can be restored in this way.

Composite Resin Fillings

Composite resin fillings are the most popular choice, as they are relatively long lasting and cost effective. You’ll only require one visit to our Leeds dental surgery and the results can be amazing. You’ll be given a local anesthetic so your tooth can be prepared for the tooth coloured white fillings in Leeds. The next step is to clean and dry the preparation ready for the filling material.

The surface of the preparation is lightly etched to create a better bond, and the filling is gradually placed in small increments of material. It’s not uncommon for our dentists to use several different shades to create a naturally beautiful looking restoration. The final restoration is hardened using a special light, and shaped and polished.

Composite fillings should last several years, but we’ll make sure they’re doing okay at every check-up by our dentist in Leeds city dental care. They are suitable for repairing front and back teeth but will eventually become a little stained.

CEREC Inlays

If you have a significant amount of decay in your back teeth then we may recommend a CEREC inlay. The beauty of CEREC is that an inlay can be created chair side in just one visit to our Leeds surgery. The restoration is milled from a solid block of ceramic using the latest CAD/CAM technology. The blocks come in a variety of shades and translucencies, so you get a precision fit beautiful new filling in an incredibly short space of time. The materials used are also extremely strong, and are suitable even for areas where you may bite or chew quite a lot. In the past these types of fillings would’ve been called indirect fillings, in that they required more than one visit to our dental surgery.

What about Amalgam Fillings?

A lot of people still have amalgam fillings, and although it may not be worthwhile replacing them while they are still viable, many are opting for more aesthetically pleasing materials when they do begin to leak and crumble. One of the disadvantages of amalgam is that it expands and contracts whenever it comes into contact with hot and cold foods and this can have the effect of weakening the tooth, making it more prone to fracturing or cracking.

Dr. David S Brown

Why Choose Dental Implants?

It is always upsetting to lose a tooth, and in the past the only options were to wear a partial denture, or to have a bridge. While both of these solutions are still workable, a far better solution is to have a dental implant. More and more people are choosing this option as the advantages can be considerable. Dental implants are used to replace single teeth, to support a bridge, or multiple implants can support a full denture.

Dental implants in Leeds are the most natural and permanent way to replace missing teeth, and create the best aesthetic results. They are long-lasting, and the technology behind them is tried and tested. The success rates for dental implant surgery can be as high as 95%, provided the patient is in good health, isn’t a smoker, and looks after their implant properly. Lots of people have had implants in place for decades without any problems.

The Major Advantages of Having a Dental Implant

While most of the benefits of having dental implants are aesthetic, there are a couple of very important health benefits. Your jawbone is being constantly stimulated by biting forces transmitted through the roots of your teeth. If these teeth are removed then the jawbone no longer receives the stimulation and is gradually reabsorbed. This can make it very tricky to keep dentures in place, especially lower dentures, and can lead to unsightly gaps developing around bridges. Dental implants are wonderful because the titanium post replicates the tooth root, helping to provide stimulation to the jawbone, preventing this reabsorption.

Dental implants also help preserve healthy teeth adjacent to the gap, as the teeth can be damaged by partial dentures, while if you opt for a bridge then the teeth adjacent to the gap, the anchor teeth, will need to be ground down to create sufficient room for the bridge.

The Procedure for Having a Dental Implant

The procedure for having a dental implant is relatively straightforward. You’ll need to book a consultation with Dr David Brown or one of our other dentists in Leeds. We’ll need to take x-rays and a CT scan to see if you are a suitable candidate for having dental implants. The CT scan is necessary to make sure you have sufficient bone to support a dental implant. In addition the CT scan helps us plan the implant surgery more accurately, as it shows the position of other important structures like nerves.

The actual implant surgery doesn’t take very long, and can be performed under local anesthetic, although nervous patients may opt for a little extra sedation. It simply involves the dentist opening up the gum to insert a titanium post into the jawbone. Titanium is used because it’s a very inert metal that doesn’t react with the body, but does integrate with bone extremely well. Afterwards the implant will need to heal, and this process allows new bone to form around the implant, creating a strong bond to support the final restoration. You won’t be left without teeth after the surgery, as we’ll provide you with some form of temporary tooth or bridge. You may have a little discomfort after the surgery, but most people find it isn’t too bad and is easily controlled with over-the-counter painkillers. We will give you precise instructions on how to look after your implant, and how to clean around it.

Once the implant has healed we’ll take impressions of your mouth to send to our dental laboratory. These impressions are cast up in dental plaster to create an accurate model of your mouth so the crown, bridge or denture can be accurately fabricated. The final step is for your new tooth or dental restoration to be fitted.

Dr. David S Brown

General Dentistry at Leeds City Dentalcare

General dental care is designed to help you maintain your oral health. The kinds of services that fall under this heading include restorative and emergency dental care, but preventative dental care is one of the most important. It’s something we place a great deal of emphasis on, as we feel it’s the best way for our patients to enjoy good oral health at a reasonable cost. Regular dental visits are an essential part of preventative care.

Preventative Dental Care Is Best

You may the very best oral hygiene routine possible, but problems can still arise, and this is why those six monthly check-ups are so important. We will be able to detect any small signs of decay before they cause any symptoms, and can spot any other problems before they require extensive treatment. You’ll benefit from lower dental bills in the longer term, and better oral health. It only takes an hour or so to visit our Leeds surgery, and you’ll enjoy greater peace of mind knowing your smile is properly cared for.

One of the main things our dentists check for is any early signs of gum disease, as this condition is easily curable if caught early, but if left, it may develop into periodontal disease which is far more serious, and more difficult to treat. It has also been linked with numerous other health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. It is also a great idea to book an appointment with one of our dental hygienists at the same time to have your teeth professionally cleaned and polished.

The Importance of Dental Hygiene Appointments

Our dental hygienists work closely with our dentists to help patients achieve the very best oral health they can. They will remove all the hardened plaque (calculus) from your teeth by gently scraping it away, before polishing your teeth. One of the advantages of this treatment is that it will help to polish away some of the surface stains, so your teeth will look a little whiter, and your breath will be fresher.

Your dental hygienist is the person to ask if you have any questions about the best way to brush or floss, and they’ll work with you to help you find a technique right for your specific needs. This is especially true for flossing, as we realise many people find it tricky, but it is so important! It’s a great idea to ask your hygienist for tips and advice, and they’ll also be able to point out any areas you might be missing. The truth is it’s all too easy to get into a regular routine of brushing your teeth without really thinking about what you’re doing and whether you’re covering all the tooth surfaces.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Part of your dental exam will include a screening for oral cancer. This disease is thankfully rare, but like all cancers treatment is much more successful when it’s caught early. Our dentist in Leeds will examine all your oral tissues for signs of any changes. They are looking for signs that the colour of the oral tissues has changed, or for any signs of lumps, rough patches, or thickened areas. Other indications that something may be amiss include sore patches that don’t heal easily, or noticing teeth meet together slightly differently. While this disease is more prevalent amongst smokers and heavy drinkers, some 25% of cases occur in people who have neither of these habits.

General dental care at Leeds City Dentalcare will help you maintain good oral health with the minimum of fuss. Regular dental visits help greatly to lessen the possibility of any nasty surprises and big dental bills, and are well worth the effort.

Dr. David S Brown

Tooth Whitening at Leeds City Dentalcare

Teeth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic dental treatments, and it is little wonder. When properly done by an expert dentist such as our very own Dr David Brown, it is safe and effective, and can create a more youthful and healthy appearance. Teeth can darken naturally as we age, but there is no need to put up with a smile that appears yellow or stained.

Why do Teeth Darken?

The teeth of younger people are often naturally whiter, and this may be partially due to genetics, but is also down to the fact that they have a thicker layer of enamel protecting their teeth. If you compare the teeth of a younger person with someone older then you’ll notice the older person’s teeth have much more colour, but appear more translucent towards the biting edge. This is due to the enamel covering the tooth being a lot thinner, allowing more of the underlying tooth structure to show through. This is substance called dentine, and it contains the natural shade of the tooth.

This darkening effect can also be due to lifestyle choices; if you enjoy a glass or two of red wine, or just love your Friday night curries then your teeth are more likely to be stained. Smoking is another major culprit.

Choosing the Whitening System Right for You

You can choose to have your teeth bleached in our Leeds dental surgery, using the Opalescence Tooth Whitening system, or you can choose to bleach them in the privacy of your own home, using the Nite White system. Both methods have their advantages.

Opalescence will give you results in less than an hour. It is an extremely safe system that doesn’t use heat, light or UV light to activate the bleach. Another advantage is that the gel contains fluoride, helping to strengthen your tooth enamel, and reducing sensitivity.

The Nite White system gently whitens your teeth overnight, and also contains ingredients designed to strengthen tooth enamel. The bleaching gel comes in several different percentages, and one of our dentists will prescribe the strength they feel is most appropriate for your needs.

If you need your teeth bleached quite quickly for a special event, then you may wish to have them whitened in our comfortable dental surgery. However some people prefer to have more control over tooth whitening in Leeds, and find bleaching at home more suitable.

Can Anyone Have Their Teeth Whitened?

The short answer to this is no, as it is essential to have a full check-up with one of our dentists before bleaching your teeth. Your teeth need to be cavity free, and your gums must be healthy. When healthy teeth are whitened the procedure is very safe, but if an unhealthy mouth is exposed to the bleach it could be painful, and may worsen any existing dental diseases.

It is not suitable for children, and isn’t recommended for pregnant women or those who are breast feeding. While there is no hard evidence that it is bad for the baby, there has been far too little research to conclude it is completely safe. Some people may find they swallow tiny amounts of bleach during the whitening process, and while this is completely harmless for an adult, it would not be advisable for an unborn child.

Teeth Whitening Won’t Bleach Existing Dental Work

If you’d like a whiter smile but already have veneers, crowns, or bridge work, then bleach will not affect their colour. The bleaching gel cannot whiten porcelain, and you will need to budget to have these restorations replaced. If you are considering having a smile makeover then our Leeds dentists always recommend getting your teeth whitened first, the reason being that dental veneers and crowns can be more accurately matched to your sparkling new smile, rather than trying to whiten your teeth to match. Get dentist in Leeds to achieve brighter and whiter teeth at Leeds City Dentalcare.