Ballgown wedding dress ordered? Check. Makeup artist booked? Check. Glistening white smile? (Crickets.)
Years of coffee and wine drinking have taken a toll on your smile, and you wish you could restore the shine of its glory days. You’re not alone, either. Research shows that 80% of U.S. adults want whiter pearly whites and reportedly spent more than a billion dollars on home teeth whitening solutions in 2016.
How can you elevate your smile’s look to ensure an Instagram-worthy smile in your upcoming wedding pictures? Let’s explore how to get a Hollywood celebrity-like smile before the wedding season.
Teeth Whitening
Bleaching your teeth is one of the most convenient ways to restore your smile’s shine. Your dentist can create custom clear splints for you in one to two days. You can then pick up the splints from the dental office, fill them with a bleaching agent, and wear them on your teeth for several hours daily.
The agent will bubble brown and yellow stains out of your teeth’s enamel, their protective layer, without negatively affecting your teeth or existing fillings or crowns. You can expect a whiter smile in just one to two weeks. Afterward, occasional whitening treatment will be all you need to keep your freshly whitened pearly whites looking brilliant.
Dental Sealants
Sealants aren’t just for cavity protection, and they’re not just for kids. Choose sealants to take your smile to the next level before you say, “I do.”
Dental sealants seal your teeth’s deep, narrow grooves to protect your pearly whites from plaque (the sticky film that develops on your teeth when you eat) and food particles you can’t reach with floss or a toothbrush. These resin coatings are also an excellent way to enhance your teeth’s appearance since they’re white or clear, making them practically unnoticeable when you talk or smile. They’ll instantly make your teeth look cleaner and more uniform.
Your dentist will apply a chemical to your canines’, premolars’, and molars’ chewing surfaces, which will harden into thin protective coverings. It’s a non-invasive, simple way to take your smile to new heights before you become a groom or bride.
Dental Bonding
Are you tired of hiding misarranged, discolored, cracked, or chipped teeth? Dental bonding, or cosmetic bonding, may be the key to a brighter smile for you as you transition from single to married life. Bonding can also close gaps or spaces between teeth, refine the look of broken or misshapen teeth, or make teeth appear longer.
Your dentist will lightly etch your tooth’s surface (apply acid to make it easier for a bonding agent to stick to the tooth) and apply a bonding liquid. They’ll then apply a resin to the site when the liquid has set and sculpt it into the proper shape to achieve the desired look. The final step of the bonding process involves trimming, smoothing, and polishing the resin to create a natural look. Between 30 and 60 minutes are all you need to complete each tooth, and since the procedure doesn’t require recovery time, you can return to school or work immediately after your appointment.
Porcelain Veneers
Treat yourself to porcelain veneers before you jump the broom if you’re seeking a simple way to improve your smile. Veneers are ultra-thin shells bonded to your teeth to make your smile look white and healthy. They’re virtually undetectable. These ceramic shells also resist cigarette, tea, and coffee stains for an attractive long-term look.
Inlays and Onlays
An onlay or inlay is perfect for restoring a tooth if more than 50% of its biting surface has been damaged. These restorations may be made of gold, porcelain, or composite resin. Your dentist can attach them to your misshapen or damaged teeth sections to instantly upgrade your appearance.
Inlays are similar to dental fillings: They go inside your teeth’s tips. Onlays are more extensive restorations covering more than one tooth tip. They’ll look like your natural teeth when created, applied, and buffed (smoothed) correctly.
Teeth Cleaning
One of the best ways to boost your smile before your wedding day is to get your teeth cleaned. Regular dental cleanings (every six months) remove hardened plaque, called calculus, to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and looking their best year-round. They also allow your dentist to detect dental problems (e.g., cracked tooth, cavity, gum disease) early on before they become more serious, expensive, and painful issues. Your dentist can then create a treatment plan (e.g., root canal therapy and a crown, dental filling, deep cleanings) to restore your teeth and gums to health.
Upgrade Your Smile With Confidence Today
From the kiss to the first dance with your new spouse, your wedding day will give you several reasons to smile. Feeling self-conscious about stained teeth can quickly steal that smile on one of the most important days of your life. Fortunately, your dentist can help you sport a Hollywood celebrity smile when you walk down the aisle.
Teeth whitening, dental sealants, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, inlays/onlays, and teeth cleanings can help take your smile from drab to fab. Consider all of the above-mentioned dental treatment options to make your dull smile glisten for your “fans” — and the cameras — on your big day.