Dental treatments in Leeds
Dental implants in Leeds
Dental implants are artificial teeth used to counter teeth loss, they are permanently fixed in the mouth. They have many advantages over their restorative counterparts, such as bridges and dentures. They are the most durable and virtually indistinguishable from the real teeth, and they do not affect the adjacent teeth. Dental implants can be also used in connection with other restorative procedures. It is worth remembering that they require the same maintenance as natural teeth (brushing, regular check-ups, etc.). The patient should be in a general good health, have healthy gums and enough bone to anchor the implants in a jaw. A missing tooth should be replaced as soon as possible, as it prevents bone loss, reduces movement of surrounding teeth and helps to avoid excess decay. Dental implants make a patient feel more confident when smiling or speaking, which improves general psychological health. They also solve problems connected to eating.
Dentures
Dentures are among the most popular solutions when a lot of teeth is missing, although not the most comfortable one. They can be either complete (they replace all the teeth in upper or lower jaw, or in both jaws), or partial (designed for patients missing some of their teeth on a particular arch). Dentures are usually removable, however, there are some models that rely on clasping onto teeth or implants. They provide a natural facial appearance that may be changed after losing teeth and improve chewing ability. There is however a number of disadvantages connected to wearing dentures. A patient usually needs time to get used to them, as they do not feel natural at the beginning. Dentures also cause some problems when speaking, but they disappear in the course of time. The loss of taste resulting from wearing the full upper denture is also one of the most common problems.
Dental crowns and bridges in Leeds
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Dental crowns are used to restore a damaged tooth that could be in danger of breaking. They cover the whole tooth and help to protect it. A bridge is usually used when there is a tooth missing. In such case, the crowns are connected to each other and to a false tooth that they surround. Dental crowns and bridges are made of many materials. Those containing metal include for example full gold crowns (made of gold, platinum, palladium, silver, copper and tin), or porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns (PFMs). There are also types of crowns that do not contain metal. The colour of the crowns and bridges can be adjusted to the natural teeth. Fixing a crown involves extensive tooth preparation, that is grinding away, which results in higher costs of treatment. The advantages are long-term durability (although it also depends on the health and age of the natural teeth), and successful procedures of restoration. Full gold crowns are the most durable ones, as they are fabricated as a single piece of gold.
Veneers
Veneers are an efficient way of restoring a beautiful, white smile, available at the cosmetic dentists’ surgeries in Leeds. They are thin layers of material attached to the surface of a tooth. They serve one of the two functions: they can protect a damaged tooth surface, or improve the general appearance of a tooth. They are made either of composite, or dental porcelain. As far as cosmetic dentistry is concerned, veneers can solve a number of problems. They can close the unnatural spaces between too small teeth, they can be used to make the worn teeth look longer, they also make all the teeth look similar in colour and symmetry. Veneers may have to be replaced after 10-30 years.
Teeth whitening
This treatment is offered by the cosmetic dentists in Leeds. There are different reasons for which a patient may decide to have their teeth whitened. The confidence that is connected to a brighter smile is worth investing money in teeth whitening, especially if the results are visible almost immediately. Some natural processes cause teeth discolouration; also because of some eating and drinking habits their surface may become stained. Professional in-office whitening is an ideal option for a patient who wants to have all the teeth of the same colour, as the eye teeth are naturally darker than the other teeth. The procedure involves the initial polishing with pumice, isolating teeth with gauze to keep them dry, and placing a barrier along the gumline to protect the gums from the whitening solution. A dentist uses a high concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide, or Carbamide Peroxide. Most of the whitening products require a curing light or laser to be used to add heat to the solution, in order to activate the peroxide.
