During your wedding ceremony and reception, you'll want to look your best. In addition to selecting the perfect attire, accessories, and hairstyle, you might wonder how to improve your smile. Here's what a dentist can do to enhance the appearance of your teeth as you get ready for your big day. 

4 Dental Procedures to Prepare for Your Wedding

1. Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can lighten discolored or stained teeth by several shades. During the procedure, a dentist paints peroxide gel on tooth surfaces then uses a blue LED light to activate the solution, which lifts and removes pigments and dark-colored debris from the teeth. Scheduling this service about a month before your wedding may give you a whiter, brighter smile during your ceremony and reception. 

2. Root Canals & Crowns

Teeth that develop extensive decay might require root canals, which involves drilling out diseased pulp. Since this may involve the removal of large portions of the tooth material, a dentist can restore affected teeth by fitting crowns over them. These caps resemble the shape, size, and color of natural molars, canines, and incisors. They fit comfortably over the teeth, restoring the appearance and function of your smile. Crowns may also cover any severely cracked or damaged teeth.

This procedure involves taking impressions of the mouth and sending them to a dental lab, where technicians custom-create the crowns. Once they're ready, your dentist will cement them in place. Since the entire process may take several weeks, cosmetic dentistry practices suggest booking your initial appointment at least a few months before your wedding. 

3. Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are thin shells made from durable porcelain. They fit onto tooth surfaces and may correct chipped or cracked teeth and small gaps between teeth. They can also cover any extensive staining or discoloration that does not respond to teeth whitening. 

A dentist starts by taking molds or impressions of your teeth then sends them to a laboratory. Technicians create veneers in matching shapes, colors, and sizes. Your dentist will then bond the veneers to your natural teeth. The process takes at least two appointments and requires time for the lab to create the shells, meaning you should schedule your first visit a minimum of three months in advance of your nuptials. 

4. Dental Implants

Dental implants consist of titanium rods surgically inserted into the gums and topped with crowns that mimic the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth. This can permanently correct problems such as missing teeth and wider gaps. Getting implants requires multiple appointments, lab work, oral surgery, and recovery time, meaning you should begin the process at least six months before your wedding. 

Improve your smile with help form Aesthetic Dentistry of Charlottesville. This dentist provides teeth whitening along with porcelain veneers, dental implants, and crowns to clients throughout Charlottesville, VA. Call (434) 984-3455 to book a cosmetic dentistry consultation, and visit the website to learn more about how they can keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.