PLANNING FOR YOUR PERFECT DAY

Michele King and the team at Portstewart Family Dental are ready to help you prepare the wedding of your dreams with advice on dental care and skincare.

As we ease out of lockdown, many of our patients who put their wedding plans on hold are beginning to consider what the post-pandemic wedding might look like.

When working with patients preparing for their wedding we try to thoroughly understand the emotional challenges that such a moment brings. Our advice would be to plan well in advance to ensure that your aesthetic treatments are carried out at the right time in order to give the full effect and allow each treatment to support and build on the other.

12 TO 18 MONTHS

What are your likes and dislikes about your smile? What would make you smile and feel more confident in front of the camera?

Do you have a crooked smile?

Consider orthodontics to straighten and align your teeth. It is incredible the difference in confi dence that the correction of a slightly crooked tooth or crowding can make, especially when you are the one centre stage on the big day.

Anterior alignment (front teeth onlyshowing on your smile line) can be completed in as little as six to nine months, however correction of all teeth can take up to two years. So, depending on your concerns we can tailor your treatment plan to suit your needs. We can complete this treatment using clear braces, clear aligners, metal braces or Inman aligner, so we have lots of options to help you on the way.

It could be that you are very conscious of your smile for other reasons such as stained/discoloured teeth or fillings. Now is the time to speak to your dentist, voice your concerns and ask about your options. It could be a simple as a polish or may need full mouth reconstruction, crown bridgework or implants - plan ahead so that your treatment can easily be completed in good time. With the help of our 3D intra oral scanner we are able to perform a 3D digital setup of your proposed smile, so you can see if you would like the results before you even begin.

SIX MONTHS

To get that beautiful glowing skin on your wedding day I would consider either a Dracula Facial or Profhilo.

The Dracula Facial was pioneered by Dr Sister in London, where I was trained. It is a perfected PRP (platelet Rich Plasma) treatment, which gives a real radiance to the skin using your own blood. It is a very specific treatment in the way that it is completed. If performed in the correct manner to Dr Sisters specifications the results are outstanding.

I have seen incredible results with sagging skin in the face and neck area and a real change in the vibrancy of the skin, the effects of which can last up to 18 months.

Profhilo is a pure hyaluronic acid treatment. It works by stimulating your elastin and collagen, it’s like giving your skin a big drink of water, which rejuvenates your skin. Ideally given as a series of three treatment sessions. Again, the results are truly amazing.

Now would be the time to consider anti-wrinkle injections, to correct fine lines and wrinkles or a brow-lift to open up the eye area. You are maybe considering an enhancement such as a cheek lift or a tear trough treatment to banish those dark circles from under your eyes. Maybe you would like to correct the asymmetry in your lips or have a more “pillowy” pout with lip augmentation. You’ll be made welcome, so come in and talk through your concerns and we will see how we can help.

THREE MONTHS

So, three months before the wedding, I would suggest a visit with our hygienist Tracey Watley and myself for a fi nal check-up. Tracey will remove all tartar/calculus which cause gum disease (bleeding gums and bone loss, leading to loose teeth). She will polish the teeth and remove staining. For tougher staining such as tobacco staining we can use our air polisher which gently polishes away deep stains without any damage. This ensures that in the run up to the wedding your gums and teeth will be in optimal condition.

ONE MONTH

In the last month tooth whitening is an excellent treatment. This can be performed either using bespoke home kits constructed by your dentist or an in surgery Zoom treatment, which brightens up the colour of your teeth. A final polish will further enhance your smile to show off its brilliance.

By now your skin is glowing and your smile even more confident.

Final touch-ups for your skin can help to ensure you’re feeling and looking your best. A last-minute top-up of your anti-wrinkle injections or final sculpting is ideal.

With aesthetic treatments, there is no one size fits all approach, and it is important you choose a practitioner who is willing to take the time to fully understand your concerns and your objectives. Just like an amazing wedding, proper planning will make a world of difference and our team can support you along the way.

Note: we advise against having soft tissue fillers treatments (including dermal fillers and Profhilo) either two weeks before or three weeks after COVID-19 vaccination.

Until the next time…

Michele x