Dr. Tom gave an interview with Th&Th Bridesmaids on how to get the perfect wedding day smile if you're looking to have cosmetic dentistry.
Here's a copy of his interview...
Having a great smile can make a huge difference to the way you feel, your self-confidence, and the way that other people react to you. So, it’s no wonder thousands of brides use their wedding day as a reason to get their teeth done!
So we thought it would be great to get a bit more understanding from top Harley Street dentist, Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke, on the latest techniques to improve your smile and crucially, how long you need (so it fits seamlessly into your wedding diary girls or boys for that matter!) to improve your smile in time for your wedding.
TH&TH Co-founder Louie had cosmetic dentistry in the lead up to her wedding and she always says ‘it was the best money I ever spent’
Charlotte from Sheer Luxe with the most gorgeous wedding day smile- Photo Roger Castellvi
TH&TH: So, what’s the best, or most impactful ways to improve your smile before your wedding?
Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke: Well, lots of patients come to see me before their wedding and the great thing is, there’s a range of options to fit around firstly, what the patient is looking to achieve and secondly what fits in with the timings of your big day.
There are a range of new techniques that can be used to improve your smile. I suppose the most popular are teeth whitening, composite bonding (also known as composite veneers) to smooth and straighten surfaces and edges like veneers and Invisalign to straighten teeth.
TH&TH: What’s the best way to whiten your teeth?
Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke: There are loads of products on the market, (and I know, I would say this, but really!) the safest way to whiten your teeth is with a qualified dentist. There are so many products on the market that don’t work or are unsafe. I recommend my patients use at home whitening gels, with custom made trays that will fit your teeth perfectly and whiten the teeth all the way up to the gum line. This also has the benefit of you being able to do it at home at a time that’s convenient to you. It takes around 2 to 6 weeks depending on how many shades you want to change and how often you’re willing to wear the gels.
TH&TH: What’s composite bonding then, sounds odd!?
Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke: So composite bonding in basic terms is a way of using the tooth coloured material we use in fillings to change the shape of teeth. It can be painted on to smooth the surfaces and edges of the teeth. So you can use it to remove chips, ridges and also close up gaps and spaces between the teeth and improve symmetry, to achieve a ‘veneer’ type look, but without the veneer cost. The process is also known as ‘composite veneers’. The best thing is it’s done without drilling or injections so is completely painless.
You can think of it like a ‘gel nail’ for your teeth!
TH&TH: And what’s the best way to straighten your teeth?
Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke: Most people have heard of Invisalign, but if you haven’t then it’s such a great product to use to straighten up your teeth, having treated over 7 million patients worldwide. It can be used to treat a wide range of issues, from a gappy smile, to crowding and basically means you can kiss goodbye to embarrassing and uncomfortable metal train-track braces. Invisalign are clear trays made to fit your teeth that are changed on a weekly or fortnightly basis to gradually and gently move your teeth into a straighter position.
With Invisalign you can straighten your teeth in as little as 3 months, and the time obviously is dependent on how much you need to move. The trays might be a tiny bit uncomfortable at first but this quickly settles down and is nothing compared to the old fashioned metal train-tracks. They’re also almost invisible - so you can still do work meetings, presentations etc without embarrassment. Many of my patients say their colleagues don’t even notice they’re wearing them.
Celebrities like Gisele Bündchen, Eva Longoria and Justin Bieber have all used Invisalign to straighten their smile. And I’m currently treating fashion bloggers, The London Chatter and Katherine Ormerod with Invisalign and they’re seeing great results.
TH&TH: Are there any fashion trends when it comes to teeth?
Dr. Tom Crawford-Clarke: In the past ten years or so, we’ve obviously seen a bit of a Hollywood smile trend, with big bright white veneers popularised by reality TV shows like Real Housewives and The Only Way is Essex. This is absolutely not my idea of great looking teeth. I’m all about taking your natural teeth and natural look or features and improving them. So your teeth still look like your own but better! Some people call it the ‘Chelsea smile’ but I basically want people to know you look better but can’t exactly put their finger on why.
GUIDE TIMINGS:
1-2 months before
• Initial consultation
• Hygiene polish
• Teeth whitening treatment
• Composite bonding or Veneers
3-6 months before
• Initial consultation
• Hygiene polish
• Teeth whitening treatment
• Composite bonding or Veneers
• Invisalign treatment
9-12 months before
• Initial consultation
• Hygiene polish
• Teeth whitening treatment
• Composite bonding
• Invisalign treatment
• Smile Makeover treatments which may include: Invisalign, Dental Implants, Porcelain veneers and more.
