What You Can Do To Your Smile Before A Big Event

A big event, like a wedding or a family reunion, may prompt a person to see a cosmetic dentist to fix their smile. While it’s never best to expedite a major procedure, there are options available to help someone quickly look their best…

Teeth Whitening 

For individuals who have natural teeth with no filling and caps, an in-house, professional teeth-whitening treatment may be a good option to quickly enhance their smile. The procedure can be done a day before a big event, however it’s important to note that there may be sensitivity and that expectations may not be met because each person responds to whitening differently.

Due to the uncertainty of results, we recommend this procedure be done a couple weeks prior to the big event.

Crooked Teeth

When adults want to correct their teeth without braces, veneers or crowns may be the answer. 

Veneers, a conservative option, can be done in one day as long as the dental office is equipped with the right technology. While there’s nothing wrong with this, I personally prefer the addition of the artistic hand in order to achieve esthetically pleasing results. Aside from my dental credentials, I take great pride in being a technician as well. Thus, I’m able to create veneers by hand that require the work of an artist, and not just a machine. 

Crowns can be a good choice for those who have fillings and chipped teeth. While it’s possible to have the procedure done in a day, it generally requires more time and consideration prior to a big event. 

Implants 

Dental implants, in the same way, can be used to correct a smile. However, because this procedure requires an adequate amount of time to heal in order for it to work effectively, and candidates who aren’t ideal run the risk of complications, I do not recommend this treatment prior to a big event unless ample time is available. 

Summary

I advise my patients to plan for cosmetic work in advance because changing your teeth is not as simple as changing your hair color; it's much more demanding. Throughout my career, I've had to meet tight deadlines to make my patients happy. This reminds me of one of my celebrity patients who needed work done immediately for a television show. It can be done, and I've done it many times before. But it's important to note that most dentists do not like to complete mouth restoration under these conditions and instead, prefer to do their jobs with adequate time to achieve successful results. 

 -- Dr. Gregory Boyajian, CDT, MDT, DDS, www.smilepalmbeach.com