Pre-Wedding Smile Makeover

Being the bride or the groom, you are bound to be the centre of everybody’s attention as your wedding date approaches. While you will be concerned about what you wear and how you look, it is essential to ensure that you have a stunning smile.

Unfortunately, if you have a less than perfect smile, unhealthy gums or bad breath issues, it can impact your confidence on the happiest day of your life and after that.

When you consider a cosmetic dental procedure to improve your smile — like teeth whitening, enamel bonding, or orthodontic braces for teeth straightening, the best course of action will be to visit the dentist as early as possible. Also, being aware of the duration of each procedure will help you plan your visit well in advance.

So, here is everything you need to know about pre-wedding dental treatment options for the perfect smile makeover and why they might be necessary.

Wedding smile makeover – treatment options

1. Dental cleaning and scaling

You can either choose to get regular teeth cleaning done or go for a ‘deep cleaning’ procedure depending on your dental condition. If you have excessive calculus buildup on your teeth and gum line, your dentist may suggest a deep cleaning.

Newer equipment that uses ultrasound energy to wither off the attached calculus and stains on the tooth structure without harming the tooth enamel or gums is used to carry out this procedure. Unlike olden times when metal scalers were used to scrape away deposits from teeth mechanically, these ultrasonic scalers do not harm the tissues, and the process is painless and comfortable. As per the patient’s need, these procedures can also be done under local anaesthesia to numb any particular painful areas.

 It is advisable to get your teeth cleaned up routinely to prevent bacterial buildup, resulting in tooth decay and gum disease.

2. Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is the choicest cosmetic procedure if you want to have a beautiful and sparkling smile on your wedding day, and it is a relatively quick and effective way to get a stunning smile makeover.

Professional teeth whitening is done in the clinic to remove stains on the teeth and brighten the tooth colour, and it takes about an hour. The procedure involves applying a whitening gel (containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) on the teeth. With adequate activation at frequent intervals, the gel dissolves and bleaches the stains on the teeth, making them appear brighter.

If you plan to get teeth whitening done, it is best to get it done a couple of weeks before your wedding to get the best results. Also, your teeth may feel sensitive for a day or two after the procedure.

3.  Enamel bonding and composite restorations

Gaps in between your front teeth, which may be due to a chipped or broken teeth, small-sized teeth, missing teeth or just due to the irregular shape of the teeth, may worry you!

So, how can your dentist help improve your smile in such a situation?

Dental composite is a tooth-coloured restorative material bonded to teeth to correct gaps that occur due to small tooth size, tooth decay, irregular shape or a broken tooth. Bonding these restorations to teeth is a painless procedure, and the dentist can give you a stunning smile in just one sitting.

The dentist roughens the tooth’s surface, followed by applying a tooth-coloured resin on the tooth surface. He then sculpts out your tooth’s proper size and shape and uses visible blue light to harden the material in its new form!

Alternatively, your dentist may suggest camouflaging the teeth using porcelain veneers which is a slightly expensive option but more durable than enamel bonding.

4. Veneers and crowns

Are you wondering how models and movie stars have such fabulous and flawless teeth? Veneers could be the reason.

A veneer is a thin, tooth-coloured shell made of porcelain or resin composite materials. It is attached to the tooth’s front surface to improve its appearance and has a natural, lifelike quality to it.

If you have broken, chipped, misaligned or discoloured teeth, you too can opt for veneers to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your teeth before the wedding. It takes only a week or two for the entire process and is the perfect last-minute treatment solution to improve your smile.

In some instances where other procedures are ineffective, your dentist may suggest using dental crowns to camouflage the ill-shaped teeth. A crown is nothing but a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the tooth.

5. Orthodontic aligners

Want to straighten your teeth before the wedding? Well, you can either choose metal braces or aligners.

However, this is one procedure for which you must plan a dental consultation early on. Even a mild to moderate teeth straightening will need at least five to six months.

If you dislike the thought of having metal wires and brackets in your mouth, you can opt for clear aligners. These custom-built transparent trays made of special plastic are used to apply gentle and constant force over a while to align the teeth perfectly.

6. Gum contouring and gum lightening

Do you try to control your smile lest your dark gums are exposed? A gummy smile can make you feel very self-conscious in front of others or while posing for the camera.

To improve your smile, your dentist may suggest gum contouring or gingivoplasty. The procedure is done to reshape the gum line by using a soft tissue laser or scalpel. The process takes about one to two hours, and it will take a couple of days for the sensitivity and tenderness to go away. Lasers can also lighten the dark pigmentation of the gums.

7. Tooth jewellery

Jewellery is an integral part of any wedding. Yes, your teeth can adorn jewellery too. Diamond lookalike crystals are available for tooth bonding, which shall add sparkle to your smile on your big day!

When should you plan to see the dentist?

Simple procedures like dental cleaning and teeth whitening can be done a few weeks before the wedding.

Other smile correction procedures may need proper evaluation and intensive cosmetic treatment months in advance. For example, if you have decayed, chipped or missing teeth, you may need ceramic caps, veneers or laminates and require multiple visits to the dentist.

If you are short on time, it is best to consult your dentist on how to get a smile makeover in the quickest possible time so that you are ready for your wedding with the perfect gleaming smile!

Dental Clinic Vyttila, Ernakulam