What does a cosmetic dentist can do to improve your smile by your wedding day : WHITE WEDDING, WHITER SMILE Wedding Smile Makeover People always want a brighter smile, so tooth whitening is something we see a whole lot of before weddings, Dr. Lerch says. There are many tiers of tooth whitening available today, she says. The darker your teeth, the more help they need, she explains. If you have nice white straight teeth, and basically like the color, then over-the-counter whitening strips are good because they give you that extra little whitening, she says. But if you have significant discoloration, or discoloration on the sides of the teeth, these strips likely will not be sufficient. The next step is usually take-home whitening trays or laser whitening. Both have advantages and disadvantages, she says. Its a personal preference, Dr. Lerch says. If your teeth are really dark and you want to whiten them quickly, laser whitening may be your best option, she says. Laser whitening is often the choice for people who dont like the idea of wearing mouth trays. Take home trays are more expensive than laser whitening and take more time (but) you may get deeper whitening because you are bathing your teeth in whitening gel for a longer time, she says. Wedding day tip: If you choose trays or strips, do a touch up the night before your big day. Your teeth are always the whitest the day of and the day after whitening, she says. RESTORATIVE DENTAL WORK BEFORE THE WEDDING Like options for whitening teeth, there are also several routes a person can take to restore broken, chipped, cracked or stained teeth. Bonding is typically the first line. Bonding can improve the appearance of teeth that are chipped, broken, cracked, stained or have spaces between them. With bonding, tooth-colored materials are applied, or bonded, to the tooth surface. We usually fill small spaces with cosmetic white bonding, says Dr. Lerch. This can close space and it is a simple, non-invasive and conservative procedure. Veneers are another popular choice for brides and grooms, says Dr. Lerch. These thin, custom-made shells cover the front side of teeth, and can be used to treat spaces between teeth and teeth that are chipped or worn, permanently stained, poorly shaped or slightly crooked. Crowns may be needed if porcelain veneers wont do the trick. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth. Crowns can restore a tooths shape, size and strength and/or improve its appearance. Crowns cover the visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Cosmetic Tooth Contouring Before the Wedding Cosmetic dentists can correct minor defects in the shape and appearance of a tooth through a process referred to as tooth contouring or tooth reshaping. This is sort of like filing your nails, Dr. Lerch explains. Lets say one tooth is longer or pointed or has a chip that needs to be smoothed out, then with a little cosmetic contouring teeth can look pretty, without the need for full braces or a crown, she says. Its not painful either. Its pretty much like when you are doing your fingernails, you know something is being done, but it doesnt hurt, Dr. Lerch says. For best results, bring a picture of a smile you like and say ‘my teeth are square and these are rounded. Id like mine rounded, she says. BRACES BEFORE THE WEDDING Braces are not just for kids. Gone are the train track, heavy silver braces of yesteryear. In their place, are more aesthetically pleasing – sometimes clear or even invisible – braces. Braces can help straighten crooked teeth, reduce crowding or fill in spaces where teeth do not meet properly. While technology has changed the way braces look, they still dont work overnight. Start as early as you can if you want a perfectly straight smile by your wedding day. Regardless of what procedure you choose, make sure your dentist is skilled in cosmetic dentistry, says Dr. Addleson. To help make the best decision, ask to see before and after photos of actual patients, he says. In addition, ask to speak with existing patients of the dentist and get a sense for the quality of care the dentist provides, he suggests. Continuing education assures that the chosen dentist is up-to-date on the latest techniques and materials in cosmetic dentistry. Questions to ask include does the dentist attend continuing education courses regularly, he says. Also ask if the dentist passed a credentialing examination to become accredited by a group such as the AACD
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:50:59 +0000
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