For many people, both men and women, their wedding day is one of the most important events in their life.
There are few occasions that will last longer in the memories of the bride, groom, and their guests.
A bride's dress, hair, makeup, and skin play key roles in creating a picture perfect presentation of beauty, grace, and elegance.
A stained or missing tooth can completely disrupt the impression.
Even worse, those imperfections will literally last a lifetime when immortalized in the wedding pictures.
Fortunately, new methods used throughout the dental community have made many pre-wedding dental procedures quick and low-maintenance.
Below, I'll describe a few types of cosmetic dentistry that you may want to consider before your big day arrives.
Basic Cleaning For minor imperfections, a quick basic cleaning may be the perfect touch-up solution.
Often, the daily wear and tear that our teeth sustain can lead to the formation of plaque.
Over time, tooth decay can set in.
Visiting your dentist may be inconvenient, but having your teeth cleaned before your wedding day not only keeps them healthy, but can curb bad breath.
Tooth Whitening Teeth become naturally stained and discolored with age, and if you're a habitual coffee or tea drinker, they'll stain even more quickly.
In color wedding photos, the stains will stand out and attract attention.
But, even in black and white wedding pictures, subtle imperfections can appear in stark contrast to a bride's white dress.
Few dental procedures can deliver a dazzling, clean smile more effectively than tooth whitening.
Your dentist can likely offer a few different options.
Veneers Whether by nature or by accident, a tooth can become chipped, discolored, or shaped oddly.
People may not notice such things during a normal day, but your wedding is different.
A bride captures the attention of all of the guests.
She's in the spotlight; she's the center of attention during the ceremony and the reception, no matter how well the groom is dressed.
Noticeable spaces, a chipped tooth, and other blemishes will be noticed immediately.
A porcelain veneer can be applied over 2 visits to your dentist.
It's a permanent solution that can eliminate small inconsistencies while dramatically improving the quality of your smile.
Bridges And Crowns Sometimes, a veneer won't do the job effectively.
After all, they're small, thin, and designed to fix small flaws.
When a bride is missing a tooth, has a cracked tooth, or there's excessive decay, a dentist will usually recommend a bridge or crown.
The procedure of placing both is a bit more complicated than that used to place a veneer.
It requires more time.
So, if you need to hide a major imperfection, ask your dentist how much time he'll require so you can be ready for your wedding.
Braces Teeth move over time.
Often, it's due to overcrowding within the mouth.
Or, they can move to "spread out" over too much room.
Misalignment in the jaw can also to spacing issues and crooked teeth.
Both types of problems can be resolved by having your dentist place braces on your teeth.
However, they take time to do their job.
Even though new dental technology has allowed clear and enamel-colored braces to perform as well as the old-fashioned metal "railroad tracks," they still require several months.
As with bridges and crowns, plan well in advance of your wedding day.
Your cosmetic dentist will be able to provide an accurate time line.
Looking Your Best There's plenty you can do to have any imperfections with your teeth fixed before your wedding day.
Some problems - such as stains and discoloring - are minor and can be resolved with cleaning and whitening performed by your dentist.
Even small chips or slightly malformed teeth can look gorgeous with a porcelain veneer.
If the flaws are more severe, consider having a crown or bridge placed to correct them.
Along with braces, they take more time, but enhancing the appearance of your teeth and improving your smile for your wedding day can make the investment worthwhile.
Ask your dentist about the options that are available to you.