Could You Perfect Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers?

Dentistry has made huge advancements during the past few years, especially in the materials used and this has benefited certain dental treatments, in particular dental veneers. Veneers are able to improve the look of your teeth in several different ways.

Shade

They are often used to improve the colour or shade of teeth, and are something that Leeds City Dentalcare may recommend if your teeth are intrinsically or internally stained in a way that cannot be improved through having teeth whitening. This is something that can happen through over-exposure to fluoride prior to the age of seven when teeth are still developing, or it can be due to certain antibiotics such as tetracycline. They are also a good treatment for teeth that have become discoloured due to root canal treatment, as even though this is an extremely good way of preserving the tooth it can sometimes cause the tooth to darken,

Shape

Your teeth can change shape over the years and may become more worn along the biting edges, or perhaps you’ve never liked their shape and would like your smile to be redesigned. This is something that can be done by Dr David Brown or any of the dentists here at our Leeds surgery. A properly designed smile can make your teeth look more youthful while still maintaining your individuality. For instance smile design takes into account a number of different factors such as the shape of your face, your gender and your skin tone. Your smile is unique to you and that’s something that we always look to preserve even if it is significantly improved.

Size

It might be that your teeth are the wrong size as quite a few people have teeth that are simply too small for their smile. Some people have also lost tooth structure due to trauma, causing small chips or cracks that may be able to be repaired with veneers. This is a more conservative treatment than opting for crowns in Leeds as it helps to preserve the maximum amount of tooth structure, but this may not always be possible if your tooth has a significant amount of damage. Your dentist is the best person to advise you as to which treatment would be most beneficial.

Spaces and Alignment

Dental veneers can also be used to close up or to minimise gaps in between teeth, and are a really good way of correcting teeth that may only be a little bit crooked. While it is possible to correct minor cases of misalignment through having orthodontic treatment it may not always be worth the trouble, especially when dental veneers can correct the colour, shape and size at the same time. Our dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare would always recommend the course of treatment they feel best for your dental needs, so if they think you would benefit from orthodontic treatment as opposed to just using dental veneers then they’ll definitely tell you as your dental health is always the top priority.

As we mentioned earlier, the choice of materials available for dental veneers has changed and improved tremendously in the past few years. Even just a few years ago dental veneers only used to be made out of a type of material called feldspathic porcelain. This is powdered porcelain that is mixed up with a special liquid and which is built up in tiny increments to create the final veneer. The final result is a very beautiful veneer and it’s still a technique that is used today. However many veneers are now pressed or milled from a single block of ceramic material in a process that frequently involves CAD/CAM technology. These veneers are constructed to be very thin, and are still covered with traditional feldspathic porcelain to give lifelike restorations that are extremely strong.

Dr. David S Brown

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.

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Say Cheese for a Healthy Smile

Most people who visit Leeds City Dentalcare are well aware of the need to eat dairy products for strong bones, and that this food group is a vital for overall health. However until now there’s been very little research into how dairy products could affect dental health. A new study that was recently published has shown that consuming dairy products such as cheese could help protect teeth against cavities.

The study focused on children aged between 12 and 15 and assessed the pH levels of their dental plaque before and after they had consumed dairy products. The higher the pH level in the mouth the less chance there is of acid erosion, something that can increase the risk of dental cavities. In general a pH level below 5.5 could indicate a risk for dental erosion. In this study the participants were told to drink milk, or to eat sugar-free yogurt, or cheese, and it was found that those who had milk or sugar-free yogurt didn’t see any significant change in the pH level in their mouth. In comparison the group assigned cheddar cheese showed a significant increase in pH levels, something that seems to suggest that eating cheese could be far more beneficial for helping to prevent cavities.

It’s thought this increase in pH levels after eating cheese could be due to increased saliva production due to the action of chewing the cheese. In addition cheese is more likely to stick to the tooth enamel, and could act as a buffer protecting the teeth from acid. The tradition of finishing up a meal with cheese is looking like an increasingly sensible option for dental health.

Tooth decay is caused by the action of acid released by bacteria in the sticky layer of dental plaque that adheres to the teeth and gums. An increase in acidity can damage the tooth enamel as it causes certain vital minerals such as calcium and phosphorus to be leached out of the softened enamel, increasing the risk of decay. These bacteria produce acid in response to certain sugary or carbohydrate rich foods that provide them with a source of energy.

What Makes Cheese Good for Oral Health?

Cheese contains certain components including calcium, protein and phosphorus. It’s thought its protective effects on teeth may arise from its ability to stimulate the flow of saliva which in turn inhibits the production and action of plaque bacteria. Calcium and inorganic phosphate help to reduce the effects of demineralisation on the tooth enamel and help to enhance the effects of re-mineralisation. Apparently some cheeses are better than others for helping to protect teeth, in particular aged cheddar, mozzarella and Swiss cheese.

Although cheese may be good for oral hygiene, it’s always the question of everything in moderation, and eating a balanced diet is very important. While eating a small piece of cheese at the end of the meal might be good news for your teeth, it wouldn’t be terribly healthy to eat too much as cheese is renowned for being high in fat.

Already Have Acid Erosion? Leeds City Dentalcare Can Help

If your teeth already show signs of acid erosion and there are various things you can do to help halt the damage in its tracks. Dr David Brown or any of our dentist in Leeds at our dental practice likely to recommend you use good quality fluoride toothpaste, and that you spit out the excess rather than rinse once you finish brushing. The reason for this is that it allows the fluoride to continue providing a protective effect for your tooth enamel, and fluoride toothpaste is an excellent delivery system for this important element as it will actually stick to your teeth. You may also want to use a fluoride mouthwash, but it can pay to wait half an hour or so after brushing before using this mouthwash as this will allow you to gain maximum benefit from the toothpaste.

Dr. David S Brown

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.

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Increasing Numbers of People are looking to achieve a Naturally Beautiful Smile-Are You One of Them?

According to the British Orthodontic Society an increasing number of people are looking towards achieving a beautiful, celebrity style smile in the most natural way they can. One of the most popular, and healthy ways to do this is through the use of orthodontic braces. While in the past the use of orthodontic braces used to be confined to people in their teens, nowadays it’s quite different. More people over the age of 25 are choosing to sort out their crooked teeth regardless of whether or not they’re a stay-at-home mum or a highflying businessman. Having a straight set of teeth is becoming far more coveted. Wearing braces is no longer seen as being a stigma, and in any case many of the modern orthodontic systems are nearly invisible or are certainly very discreet. A lot of well-known celebrities have made no secret of their use of these invisible braces and this is encouraging members of the general public to take more interest in having a straight smile.

Leads City Dentalcare is able to help patients seeking straighter teeth through the use of clear braces in Leeds. The surgery offers several different systems depending on your exact needs. Some of these systems can deliver results really quickly, often within just a few months while others may take a little longer depending on the degree of complexity. Some of these systems only concentrate on moving the teeth immediately visible in your smile which is one of the reasons as to why they can act so quickly. This may be all that’s needed for and is certainly an ideal choice for many people. However other popular systems concentrate on other aspects of your smile, and will work to improve the way your teeth meet together. This can be ideal if your teeth are quite crooked, giving improvements that go well beyond cosmetic appearances.

This might be quite an important consideration if you’re interested in improving your oral health, which is something our dentist in Leeds certainly encourages. Straighter teeth are always easier to clean, and if you struggled in the past with flossing and brushing and you’ll probably find your oral health improves once your teeth have been straightened. Another important thing to take into account is that having an abnormal bite or even teeth that are only slightly out of occlusion can affect the wear patterns on your teeth. If your teeth are all in occlusion and bite together normally then they will wear more evenly, and all the stresses of biting and chewing will be spread across your whole jaw. However if your teeth bite together abnormally then some of them are more likely to become worn down. These teeth would also be subjected to heavier biting forces and are far more likely to become fractured or chipped than others.

While many more people are opting for having smile makeovers, incorporating orthodontic treatment will help give you a naturally beautiful celebrity style smile while providing excellent oral health benefits. If you would like to improve your smile then it’s well worth considering one of the modern orthodontic systems available today. Dr David Brown or any of our dentists here in our Leeds surgery will be able to advise you as to which system might be the best for your needs.

Dr. David S Brown

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.

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Planning Ahead for Your Wedding Day Smile

If you are planning to get married this year that it’s quite possible you might have thought about ways to improve your smile. Your wedding day is probably the day when you’ll be most photographed in your life, and you’ll want to look your best to help make those memories as perfect as possible. However it is important to plan ahead as certain treatments may take a little more time than others, and you don’t want to leave everything to the final few weeks before your big day, or do anything to add to those last-minute nerves. A smile makeover may consist of just one procedure, or you may want to incorporate several different treatments to get a more perfect smile. The first thing to do is to make an appointment with Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare to discuss your smile and how you’d like to improve it. The treatments that may be recommended might be pretty basic, or they might be more involved. They could include:

  • Professional cleaning. This is the most basic treatment possible, as it’s already likely that youhave your teeth professionally cleaned every time you visit our Leeds surgery, probably at the same time as you have your dental checkup. This may be enough for some people, as professional cleaning helps to remove surface staining and freshens up breath. Professional cleaning takes just an hour to complete.
  • Teeth whitening is an extremely popular treatment for grooms and brides to be. You can whiten your teeth by several shades within a relatively short space of time. Teeth Whitening treatment can be completed within a couple of weeks or even less, depending on the method used.
  • Dental bonding can be used to mend small chips or other imperfections in your teeth and uses a composite resin material. The beauty of this treatment is that it can be completed in one visit to Leeds City Dentalcare, and it really can make quite a difference to your smile.
  • Dental veneers are thin slips of porcelain that are bonded onto the outer surfaces of your teeth and can be used to modify a number of imperfections, or to close up or narrow gaps in between your teeth. This treatment is more complicated and does require several visits to our dental surgery in Leeds. You’ll probably need to allow quite a lot of time to have this treatment completed, especially if you want to have your teeth bleached. You’ll need to have your teeth bleached first before having dental veneers.
  • Orthodontic treatment can be used to straighten up your smile, and Leeds City Dentalcare uses a couple of different systems to help straighten up teeth. Both these systems are virtually invisible, but it’s highly likely treatment will take several months to complete. Afterwards you may want to perfect your smile a little further through the use of dental bonding, veneers or maybe just teeth whitening.
  • Dental implants are an ideal treatment if you have any teeth missing. This treatment can take quite a few months to complete as it does require a small surgical procedure to insert a post into your jawbone, which then needs to be left to heal for several months.

One thing to mention about all these treatments, with the exception of the professional cleaning, is that they do need to be carried out on a healthy mouth. If you haven’t visited a dentist for a while then now would be a great time to make an appointment to see one of our dentists in Leeds City Dentalcare, ensuring your smile looks beautifully healthy on the day.

Dr. David S Brown

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.

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Having a Smile Makeover

More people are choosing to have a smile makeover Leeds as there is an increasing emphasis on having nice teeth. The truth is we often make up our minds about someone a few minutes after meeting them, and this is something that can often depend on whether or not a person smiles very much. The trouble is if you’re not happy with the way your teeth look then it can make you very self-conscious about smiling, leading to others incorrectly perceiving you as being cold or stuck up even though this could not be any further from the truth. Common reasons for wanting a smile makeover include:

  • Being unhappy with the colour of your teeth, as they may be stained or yellow
  • Having crooked teeth
  • Having gaps in between your teeth
  • Missing one or more teeth
  • Noticing your teeth appear worn down or chipped
  • Not wanting to smile in front of others
  • Being fed up with covering your mouth whenever you laugh or smile

If you are unhappy with your smile, then it may well be worth just booking a consultation with Dr David Brown or with another cosmetic dentist at our Leeds surgery. Your smile might be significantly improved through relatively conservative dental treatments, and it could be much more affordable than you’d think. Leeds City Dentalcare offers a huge range of cosmetic dental treatment, and our dentists will be able to talk you through each treatment, and how it could improve your smile. It all depends on how drastically you want to change the look of your teeth, and whether or not you have any existing problems that could affect a smile makeover.

One of the first things we will want to do is ensure your mouth is healthy and free from disease, and that you do not have any other conditions that may affect your dental health, as for instance untreated teeth grinding can cause a lot of damage to teeth and gums, and could ruin veneers or crowns. After this we will listen to you to find out which aspects of your smile you’re most unhappy with, and how you would really like your smile to look. We will let you know what can realistically be achieved through having a smile makeover Leeds, and what can be done within your budget.

The next step will be to put together a treatment plan. This will provide you with a breakdown of the different treatments involved in your smile makeover, and their cost. Of course it is up to you as to what you decide to have done, as you may wish to opt for just one treatment, or if you wish for an extensive amount of work it could well be possible to split it into manageable sections.

It might be that any work needs to be carried out in a specific order. For instance, if you want to have straighter teeth we may recommend orthodontics Leeds followed by teeth whitening and veneers. The reason for this is that your newly straightened teeth may mean you need fewer veneers to perfect your smile, and it is likely less tooth structure will need removing to fit the veneers than if you had not had braces. Teeth whitening is always best carried out before having new porcelain restorations such as veneers and crowns, as it makes it far easier to accurately match the shade. These are all details we will discuss with you during your consultation for your new smile.

Dr. David S Brown

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.

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