Crowns
Dental crowns can be used to replace the top part of a tooth which has become damaged or weakened, provided the root is still relatively strong and healthy. Crowns by our dental practice, The Dentist Gallery are designed and placed with the appearance and function of your smile in mind! Results are so natural, you may forget there was ever a need for dental work to begin with!
There are several reasons for dentists to recommend a crown. A crown is a dental restoration that may be used to protect a tooth when it is at risk for a break, to attach a dental bridge, or to restore a tooth after a root canal. If you’ve had dental implants placed, crowns will be the visible restoration that looks and acts as your tooth replacement.
A crown fits over the existing tooth, helping to strengthen it and make it look like a whole, natural tooth.
At The Dentist Gallery, our specialists always want your smile too look its absolute best. Depending on your individual needs, we offer porcelain crowns and porcelain fused to high noble metal crowns to restore the grins of our guests, for the most aesthetically pleasing results and impressive stability.
All-porcelain dental crowns provide the best benefits. Ceramic porcelain reflects light much like tooth enamel and can be matched to the coloring of surrounding teeth, for a restoration that looks beautifully natural in appearance. Porcelain materials are also extremely durable, adding strength and stabilizing the damaged tooth. With the skilled, artful placement of our team, and good oral hygiene habits, a dental crown is meant to be a long-lasting, unnoticeable dental solution.
If you have an old crown which you are not entirely happy with, it may well be worth speaking to us about it – you’d be surprised at just what a difference a new one could make!
For more detailed information about the type of crowns that we offer or to book an appointment please contact us on 020 3744 0904.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are a realistic, strong and permanent way of replacing missing teeth. They are a direct replacement for the missing tooth and tooth root. Small dental implants, which are made out of titanium metal, are surgically placed into the jawbone, becoming the new root. Over time, the implants and jawbone will fuse, creating a solid foundation for your new tooth. Once this fusion is complete, an abutment will be placed on the implant, where a beautiful porcelain crown will be attached. The end result is a sturdy tooth or set of teeth that will look and feel as natural as the teeth you were born with. They can be used to replace a single tooth or a number of teeth, and can also be used as a much more comfortable and convenient method of keeping dentures in place.
The reason dental implants are preferred is because of their likeness to the entire tooth structure, and their ability to preserve bone health. When a tooth is missing, so is the stability of the jawbone, causing the bone to deteriorate and re-absorb through time. As this loss of bone progresses, facial features are put at risk and general health is compromised. Dental implants are the only tooth-replacement restoration that halts the bone deterioration process, mimicking the natural structure of the tooth and root.
If a tooth needs to be extracted, this usually done on the same day as the implant surgery so the crown can be fitted as soon as possible. In most cases, the time it takes for the full procedure is 3 to 5 months compared to the standard 7 to 9 months.
Implants can last for many years if properly cared for. Maintaining them as you do your other teeth is important and your dentist will advise you on any specific requirements.
If you are considering the option of having dental implants fitted, one of our dental experts would be more than happy to advise you. Please call our dental practice on 020 3744 0904 to find out more.
Metal-Free Fillings
Metal-free fillings are restorations that protect the beauty and longevity of your smile. Providing metal-free fillings as an alternative to traditional metal amalgam is just another way our team at The Dentist Gallery achieves conservative, minimally-invasive dental care.
Fillings made from composite resins and porcelain can restore unsightly old metal fillings. Many are surprised by the natural results metal-free fillings provide a tooth once covered by the old-fashioned silver mercury amalgams. The talent of our cosmetic dentists allows them to offer a restoration that is so natural-looking in appearance, the filling goes unnoticed by others.
It’s not only appearance that makes traditional metal amalgam fillings less than ideal. The composition of these fillings requires more removal of healthy tooth before application. Also, the metal is known to expand or contract with temperature changes in the mouth, which may cause the tooth to crack or break.
When tooth decay has caused enough damage that a filling is needed, a dentist chooses metal-free fillings because of their tooth-sparing qualities and protective nature. The strong bonding technique of a metal-free filling requires the least amount of tooth removal and provides a strong seal that keeps the tooth safe. In fact, the composite resin material that makes up these fillings beautifully enhances the strength and durability of the tooth, in some cases making it even more stable than it was naturally.
Here at The Dentist Gallery, our goal is in always providing the most comfortable, conservative dentistry possible. Offering metal-free fillings to patients is just one of the many ways we accomplish this goal.
Dentures
Dentures restore the function and beauty of smiles after tooth loss. At The Dentist Gallery, we address your individual desires and needs, and can help you find a dentist specializing in dentures.
A candidate for full dentures has lost all or most of their teeth, while partial dentures are great for anyone who still has some teeth remaining. You can have a denture for your upper or lower jaw, or both. A partial denture will prevent any remaining natural teeth from shifting position, causing malocclusion or change in bite. Both full and partial dentures improve the ability to chew, speak, and grin with confidence. They also provide support for the facial muscles, drastically improving the appearance of the face and smile.
For maximum health and function, implant-supported dentures are the best solution. An implant-supported denture is a denture that is held into place using dental implants. An implant-supported denture has special attachments that allow them to be attached securely to the implant, so there’s no slipping, discomfort, or need for special adhesives. Patients who have made the switch from traditional dentures to implant-supported dentures also notice improvement in speech and the ability to feel temperature and texture better while eating.
Everyone has different desires and needs when it comes to tooth loss.
Extractions
At The Dentist Gallery we do all we can to help our patients keep their teeth for life, but sometimes there are reasons why a tooth needs to be removed. That’s why it’s always important to bring up any concerns with your dentist as soon as they arise, even if it’s as simple as a toothache. Our team is dedicated to providing you with the resources needed to ensure you get the best oral health care possible.
Some people have overcrowded mouths, and have some teeth removed as part of their orthodontic (teeth straightening) treatment. If teeth are not properly cared for they can become too badly decayed or damaged to be repaired, and need to be extracted. Gum disease can, in its later stages, cause teeth to become so loose that they have to be taken out. And some people have to have their wisdom teeth removed, usually because they are growing in the wrong direction and are causing problems.
The procedure for a tooth extraction is relatively simple from a patient’s perspective. We will numb your tooth and the surrounding area with local anaesthetic, so you will feel little or no discomfort. We can also offer sedation for complex cases and/or nervous patients. We will then hold the tooth firmly, and will gently ease it out. There will be some bleeding, but we will place a pad in the tooth socket to help stop this. We will generally ask you to bite gently on the padding for about half an hour, after which you can take it out and throw it away.
Recovering from a tooth extraction should be simple. We will give you recovery instructions, which typically include simple precautions to help avoid infection. In some cases, an antibiotic might be recommended.
If you have any questions about extractions or any other dental matter, please give us a call on 020 3744 0904.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is designed to save a problem tooth. Severe decay, gum disease, trauma, or a tooth fracture can all cause infection that spreads to the pulp, resulting in excruciating pain or tooth abscesses. By removing the diseased tissue, the spread of infection is put to a stop and the healthy part of the tooth is restored. Without treatment, the tooth is likely to have to be removed.
Root canal treatment these days is an easy, quick procedure that is virtually pain-free. Treatment involves removing the infected pulp and filling the root canals. This can take two or three visits to complete. First we will make the tooth and its surrounding area numb so you won’t feel any pain. Then we seal it with a special filling material which helps avoid any potential problems in the future. As the tooth is left weakened by the decay, we will recommend fitting a crown to strengthen it.
At The Dentist Gallery, nothing is more important than the health and vitality of your smile. Don’t let a painful or infected tooth get in the way of your smile.
If you would like more information about root canal treatment please call us on 020 3744 0904.
Tooth Coloured Inlays
Inlays are very similar to fillings, they sit inside the cavity of your tooth and repair the tooth’s damaged biting surface.
Tooth-coloured inlays have several advantages over fillings. They are made of a strong, long-lasting material that can match the colour of your teeth to make them look very natural. They are stain resistant and are also particularly suitable for large cavities.
If you would like more information about the functional and aesthetic advantages of inlays please call us on 020 3744 0904.