Flat 12 Harcourt House 19a Cavendish Sqaure London W1G 0PN Telephone 020 7580 9102/2595 Fax 0207 499 8483
Private London West End Dentist W1 Area
White Fillings.
White fillings can be used in many different situations and are now a viable alternative to using Amalgam. Depending on the size of the filling they can either be placed directly in the mouth or, for larger fillings, can be made from an impression of the cavity and constructed in a Laboratory to be cemented at a second appointment. This procedure produces a stronger better shaped filling.
Porcelain Facings.
These are generally used on front teeth to bring about a change in shape or colour. The procedure involves removal of a small amount of enamel from the entire front surface of the tooth. An impression is taken and a sheet of colour matched Porcelain is constructed in the Laboratory which is then bonded onto the tooth. They can also be used to reshape or build up poorly formed teeth. (See Photos)
Bleaching or Whitening.
Teeth can often be bleached to improve their appearance. The main idea is to remove stain built up over years and chemically bonded to the enamel. Bleaching returns the teeth to a more normal colour for that patient. You would not normally expect the tooth to lighten much passed your natural colour. If you want to go much lighter then you may need to consider Porcelain Facings.
There are two different techniques.
1. In surgery Bleaching.
A strong Bleach is applied to the teeth in the Surgery. A special light is applied and left to lighten the teeth for the next one and a half hours. After treatment the patient is not allowed to have any food or drink with colour in it for 24 hours. This is because the tooth is very reactive and will reabsorb stain.
2. Home Bleaching.
Impressions are taken and a special template is made to fit over the teeth. The patient places a small amount of gel in the template and wears them for an hour a day for one month. This produces a gentle slow change which is every bit as good as the in surgery technique but at a much lower cost.
My preference is the home technique because it is easy to top up whenever you feel like it. Usually this means repeating the procedure for a couple of days every six to twelve months, thus maintaining the colour.
White fillings can be used in many different situations and are now a viable alternative to using Amalgam. Depending on the size of the filling they can either be placed directly in the mouth or, for larger fillings, can be made from an impression of the cavity and constructed in a Laboratory to be cemented at a second appointment. This procedure produces a stronger better shaped filling.
Porcelain Facings.
These are generally used on front teeth to bring about a change in shape or colour. The procedure involves removal of a small amount of enamel from the entire front surface of the tooth. An impression is taken and a sheet of colour matched Porcelain is constructed in the Laboratory which is then bonded onto the tooth. They can also be used to reshape or build up poorly formed teeth. (See Photos)
Bleaching or Whitening.
Teeth can often be bleached to improve their appearance. The main idea is to remove stain built up over years and chemically bonded to the enamel. Bleaching returns the teeth to a more normal colour for that patient. You would not normally expect the tooth to lighten much passed your natural colour. If you want to go much lighter then you may need to consider Porcelain Facings.
There are two different techniques.
1. In surgery Bleaching.
A strong Bleach is applied to the teeth in the Surgery. A special light is applied and left to lighten the teeth for the next one and a half hours. After treatment the patient is not allowed to have any food or drink with colour in it for 24 hours. This is because the tooth is very reactive and will reabsorb stain.
2. Home Bleaching.
Impressions are taken and a special template is made to fit over the teeth. The patient places a small amount of gel in the template and wears them for an hour a day for one month. This produces a gentle slow change which is every bit as good as the in surgery technique but at a much lower cost.
My preference is the home technique because it is easy to top up whenever you feel like it. Usually this means repeating the procedure for a couple of days every six to twelve months, thus maintaining the colour.