Dental treatments in Birmingham
Dental crowns and bridges
Both, NHS and private dentists in Birmingham fit crowns and dental bridges. The quality of materials differs significantly between NHS and private clinics. A crown is an artificial tooth that fits over the remaining part of a damaged, weakened or cracked tooth. Once fitted, crowns and bridges look very natural and it is hard to say that they are actually false teeth. Crowns are made of porcelain, amalgam of different materials as well as precious metals. They last for many years, depending on the health of the tooth underneath and the overall hygiene. A temporary crown made of plastic or metal is placed over the tooth until the permanent crown is fitted. Usually two or three visits to a dentist are required to complete the treatment. Firstly, the preparation work is carried out and the impressions are taken. The temporary crown can also be fitted then. The second visit is to fit the permanent crown. There will usually be about 12 days in between appointments.
Bridges are crowns that are permanently cemented together. They are made of porcelain bonded to precious metal although other non-precious metals are also used in the base in order to strengthen the bridge. New bridges tend to be made entirely of strong porcelain. Bridges are very good solution to missing teeth and are the cheaper alternative to dental implants.
Veneers and Inlays
Various private cosmetic dentists in Birmingham provide veneers and inlays for local patients. A veneer is a thin layer of material made to fit over the surface of a tooth. Veneers are not only used to close small gaps, but they can also be used to resurface teeth and to make them appear straighter, especially when orthodontics treatments are not suitable. Veneers make teeth look natural and healthy and small amount of preparation work on the tooth is needed. White porcelain veneers are used for so called “Hollywood smile restoration” .They are attached to the front of a patient’s tooth, concealing surface imperfections in the tooth enamel. Veneers are made individually for patients to match the size and shape of their tooth.
Teeth whitening
Whitening is a good way to improve the shade of your teeth and to make a brighter smile. There are many dental practices in Birmingham that provide teeth whitening treatments. Whitening can reduce the discoloration and staining of teeth. During your first consultation for tooth whitening, your dentist should tell you what you personally can expect for your specific smile. The structure of your teeth and the type of teeth whitening procedure affects the outcome. A change of two or three shades will make a significant difference in just about anyone's smile. Patients need to remember that not all of their teeth are the same natural colour. Often your eye teeth tend to be darker than the others, your front teeth are typically the whitest, and molars tend to be a shade between the two. There are a few teeth whitening procedures available such us lamp or tray teeth whitening. While each work effectively, there are advantages and disadvantages to each procedure dependent on your objectives of the treatment.
Dentures
Dentures can be provided by either NHS or private dentists in Birmingham. Dentures provide only about a fifth of the biting force when compared with natural teeth. It is also very likely that the mouth will change over the life of your denture and that denture would need to be replaced. A complete denture replaces all the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. A partial denture fills in the spaces left by lost teeth. In partial denture, metal attachments connect the denture to your remaining natural teeth. Partial denture also helps to protect your remaining teeth from loss or gum disease. Although dentures provide a natural appearance it takes a bit of time to get used to them. Dentures are not the most comfortable solution to missing teeth. There is some maintenance involved and some speech problems might occur.
Implants
There are many dental clinics in Birmingham that provide implant treatments. Dental implants are regarded as the best solution to missing teeth, although it also tends to be the most expensive one. Dental implants provide the longest lasting and most natural solution to missing teeth. Once the treatment is completed, implants give the natural looking teeth and confidence to eat and smile. Implants are much more comfortable than conventional bridges and partial dentures. Dental Implants protect your natural teeth as there is no need for drilling of surrounding teeth as it is the case with bridges. Dental implants slow the bone shrinkage process as when teeth are missing the surrounding bone begins to shrink. Insertion of implants is painless and the procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. The slight pain may be felt after the surgery and some minor swelling may occur. Not all patients are suitable for implant treatments. If you are in general good health then dental implants will very likely work for you. Additionally you need to have healthy gums and sufficient thickness of the jawbone. In some cases implants can only be placed after reconstructing the bone area first.
