Brightening Your Smile

The bright smile of a bride should be the centerpiece of a wonderful wedding day. So much time goes into planning this special day that tuning-up your smile tends to be left off the list. Looking your best, especially when second chances aren't an option, is extremely key. Your wedding day photos will tell your blissful story for a lifetime.

Many brides spend their wedding budget on the fanciest dress and the finest photographer and videographer in town but don't consider brightening their smiles because they feel it's "not cost effective". Because they are on a budget, a pleasing smile doesn't seem to be important…until it's too late. One bride I know could not wait to come home from her honeymoon to view her wedding proofs. As she sorted through the 200+ photos taken that day, she was amazed how the photographer had captured several key moments in such vivid details. She was saddened that many of the pictures she liked with her smiling accentuated her only true fault: her crooked, yellow teeth. She was upset that the truly beautiful day was ruined by her smile. She never wanted to show the album to anyone.

One investment that will make your day and provide many years of dividends, is a smile makeover. One advantage of a smile makeover is that the bride gets to take it with her after the ceremony. It doesn't take months of planning and savings, and last just 5 hours. Depending on your budget and time frame, there are several types of smile makeovers available with three being the most popular: teeth whitening (bleaching) and reshaping, orthodontics (braces) and veneering (porcelain orthodontics).

If your timing is short or you are on a fixed budget, teeth whitening and reshaping incurs the least outlay of funds. In my practice I provide whitening by laser. The laser offers you instant gratification (less than 30 minutes), in conjunction with minor teeth reshaping, for the most affordable smile opportunity. The total procedure is quick (less than one hour), pain-free and requires no recovery time or reappointments. You leave the dentists office whiter, brighter and happier making a total investment of less than $1500.00.

Orthodontics (teeth straightening) is a great investment now because we have Invisalign (removable clear positioners). Invisalign is a series of clear, nearly undetectable positioners (aligners) worn full time, day and night. Each set is worn about two weeks for a total average treatment time of 12 months. Because the aligners are removable, they are convenient and comfortable and afford you the ability to eat your favorite foods and brush and floss your teeth when you please. Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign depending on your dental situation. If your time frame is less than 12 months this may not be for you. Normal fees are usually less than $5000.00 depending on the degree of difficulty. One additional benefit with Invisalign, you can bleach your teeth simultaneously (placing gel in your aligners), finishing with a whiter as well as a straighter smile.

Veneering is a superb procedure for those requiring or seeking an advanced treatment option. Depending on the position of your teeth and the broadness of your smile, the outer surface of each front tooth (usually up to10 upper and 10 lower) is reduced and the arches (upper or lower) contoured to ideal form. This may require shaping more off one tooth and less off another. An impression is taken then an ideal temporary, fashioned to your liking, is made and cemented securely in place. In about two weeks, the temporary is removed and a thin layer of glazed porcelain is permanently bonded to each tooth to create a dazzling knock-out smile. This process takes only two visits and affords you with the smile of your dreams. Fees for this procedure will be $700.00 to $2000.00 per tooth depending on the number of teeth involved and the expertise of the clinician placing the veneers. Veneering represents the greatest investment for a bride but it provides a dazzling smile for a lifetime.

A brilliant, pleasing, healthier smile is essential for a bride or groom to finalize the picture perfect wedding day. If you need a second opinion, ask your photographer. Smile with confidence and enjoy your day.

By Glenn A. MacFarlane, D.M.D., P.A.
DocSmile@aol.com