Beauty

AISLE-READY SMILES

As Hollywood actress Connie Stevens said, “Nothing you wear is more important than your smile”. This sentiment is echoed by Dr Henriette Macri-Etienne of Integrated Dental Health in Katoomba, who has several tips for enhancing your smile.

A beautiful smile is made up of healthy skin, lips and gums – not just teeth. But how do you achieve the dental dream for your wedding day?

Finding the right dentist is critical – someone who listens, is empathetic and understands your needs. And someone who is willing to explain all the options available, in detail, given the financial, biological and distress costs involved.

Biological cost refers to irreversible changes made to your teeth, such as removing tooth structure for veneers. Distress cost refers to the length of treatment and the stressful nature of visiting the dentist multiple times – sometimes people with dental phobia prefer treatment whilst asleep via IV sedation. Thankfully, payment plans and financing options allow more people access to a confident, beautiful and healthy smile for life, and all the benefits that has to offer. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED?

In an ideal world you would allow 24 months for traditional braces, whitening veneers and facial injectables. The advantage of more time for orthodontics means a broader smile without dark corridors at the corners of the mouth. The shorter 12-month option means six to nine months of ‘fast braces’ would be required to straighten front teeth only. Veneers and whitening would usually be involved for the best cosmetic result, as well as facial injectables.

As a bare minimum, two visits with your dental hygienist in the 12 months prior to the big day would ensure your gums are healthy, pink and firm, and that your breath is naturally fresh – healthy gums enhance a smile beyond words. BML

integrateddentalhealth.com.au

BITE-SIZED ADVICE

• Digital Smile Analysis is a helpful tool as it allows you to visualise before and after, and helps you decide which options would be best for you. • Orthodontics, including ‘fast braces’ or

Invisalign/ClearCorrect, are highly effective and give desirable results. • Professional whitening options plus ceramic veneers, as well as facial injectables, are useful treatment modalities for most people. Photo: Snippets Photography.