Tips for Achieving That Picture Perfect Smile For Your Wedding Day!

I am very excited about today's guest blog. It Is Dr. Catrise Austin, a dentist and author of a new book called “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the stars get that perfect smile and how you can too”. Because having a beautiful smile is something i've thought about more lately with the wedding only a couple months away, i thought that other brides may benefit from her book and this guest post. If you want to win a copy of her book for free, at the end of this post, i'll tell you how! Enjoy!!

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Hello Relentless Bride Readers! I’m Dr. Catrise Austin, Dentist to the Stars and author of a new dental consumer book titled “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the stars get that perfect smile and how you can too”. So you have that special day coming up and you want to look your best. You plan to be a vision of beauty in the wedding dress of your dream and the works. But on that special day, make sure you and your bridal party don’t forget to bring the ultimate wedding accessory – that picture perfect smile!

If you’re like my clients here in New York City, you’re probably well into planning for your spring and summer weddings. As a cosmetic dentist, wedding season is always an exciting time for me because I get to create beautiful smiles for lasting memories. I mean, you’ve got to admit, having a picture perfect smile for your wedding day is priceless! If you’ve been thinking about enhancing your smile for your wedding day, it’s never too late to add a dazzle to your smile. Here are some of my inside tips and guidelines that I want all brides “to be” to consider as you plan your beauty needs for your wedding day.

Tip 1: Take the Mirror Test

Here’s one of the key exercises from my book that I always encourage my patients to do when they are considering a smile enhancement. Take a look in the mirror today and assess your current smile. Be honest and write down your first impression. How do you feel about your smile? Do you like the color of your teeth? The position of your teeth? The shape of your teeth? Are there any visible cavities? Do you have visible tarter and stains on your teeth? Do your gums appear healthy and pink? Do you have any teeth missing? Do you have unsightly silver fillings? These questions and your answers can help guide your dentist in recommending the best treatment for your smile and design a plan with timelines for having your smile completed and ready for your wedding day. Depending on your smile needs, a smile makeover can take a few months or a few hours so I recommend doing this mirror test as soon as possible. Not sure where your smile stands? Check out my 4 Star rating systems in my book to see if your smile is on the “A-List” or “D-List”. The sooner you take this mirror test before your wedding date, the better. If you’ve identified a need to enhance your smile, hopefully you will have enough time to take action to improve your smile.

Tip 2: Take a Trip to the Dentist

Once you’ve determined your smile needs, find the right dentist who can deliver the smile of your dreams. If you don’t have a cosmetic dentist that you’re happy with, find one! Many dentists offer consultations, which allow you to discuss your needs one-on-one. Ask to see before and after photographs of actual patients, the pros and cons of recommended treatment, costs, and timelines of completion. Warning, there are tons of cosmetic dentists out there who have not been properly trained. I highly suggest that you do your homework by asking for a referral or simply follow my advice included in my book on how to find a good cosmetic dentist in your area. Consider taking a trip to the dentist approximately 30-60 days before your wedding date to give yourself time for a makeover if need be.

Tip 3: No Matter What, Get Those Teeth Pearly White!

Teeth whitening is the #1 requested cosmetic dentistry procedure not only in my office but nationwide. Contrary to popular belief, whitening is safe for your teeth (provided that you use a brand recommended by your dentist) and when combined with a professional cleaning, it is one of the quickest ways to enhance your smile for the big day. If you need an instant smile makeover, your dentist can clean and whiten your teeth same week of your wedding with a laser or if you plan in advanced, you can have your teeth cleaned 2-4 weeks before your wedding and whiten in the comforts of your own home with dentist dispensed whitening trays or store bought strips and trays (they actually work).

Tip 4: Don’t Have a Celebrity Budget for the Big Day? Consider The “Snap On Smile”!

If you have more advanced smile needs to close spaces, make teeth appear straighter, hide missing teeth, mask discolorations and are short on time and/or cash, I recommend the “Snap on Smile”. This is a custom-made, tooth colored appliance that slips over your natural teeth to instantly give you the perfect smile like today’s hottest A-List celebrities-but at a fraction of the cost of the popular but expensive porcelain veneers. I know you’re asking yourself, does this appliance look too big and fake in the mouth? The answer is “no”, unless you are not a candidate for the procedure from the start! However, for those who are candidates for the Snap on Smile, you’d be surprised at the results. For before and after photos and more information on this cool appliance, there’s an entire chapter dedicated on it in my book “5 Steps to The Hollywood A-List Smile”. But if you happen to have the time and money some of the more long term procedures to consider would be clear removable braces, bonding, bridges or implants, or porcelain veneers depending on your smile needs.

Tip 5: Ask if your dentist does couples or wedding party package deals for savings

You’ve heard they saying “the more, the merrier”. Well at my office, we’ve designed specially priced bride and groom packages as well as wedding party teeth whitening packages to make everybody in your entire party smile! Ask your dentist if they have any special offer for savings.

There are so many options that can give you a picture perfect smile for your wedding day. Again, the key is to prepare early and factor in your smile when you’re planning your wedding timeline and budget. The benefits to enhancing your smile are endless. Just remember, a beautiful smile speaks for you and on your wedding day your smile should be the star of the show! For more smile tips and your VIP pass to dental resources, pick up my new book “5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile: How the stars get that perfect smile and how you can too!”

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Do you think Dr. Austin's book can help you? Are you interested in taking a look-see? All you have to do is leave a comment here and let me know what you'd like to achieve with your beautiful smile and i'll pick one lucky reader to win her book for free!!! You have until December 14, 2009 11:59 PM EST to enter!

UPDATE: The New Mexican Bride has won this book