A celebrity smile is the latest wedding must-have, as more and more brides add teeth whitening to their beauty plan.

Even if you can’t make up your mind about your dress, one thing you can both be sure you’ll be wearing on your wedding day is a smile.

But is your smile good enough for the close-up? Should you get your teeth whitened? And how much will it cost?

Maybe it’s our obsession with looking like so-called celebrities, maybe it’s simply because it’s becoming more available, but teeth whitening is increasingly popular, particularly for those significant occasions in our lives when we know we’re going to be on show, such as a wedding.

In the US, where people are used to paying for dental care – routine and cosmetic – it’s practically part of regular beauty maintenance (‘personal grooming’ if you’re a man).

Here, it’s taken longer to catch on, but more and more private dentists are offering it as a cosmetic option, along with much more extensive treatments to reshape, repair and restore less than perfect smiles.

Cosmetic dentistry can mean everything from simple white fillings, teeth whitening, crowns, enamels, veneers and even altering the size, shape and alignment of teeth.

It’s generally not available on the NHS, which means you will have to pay for all your consultations and treatment. Costs vary, depending on the condition of your existing teeth and what you have done to them.

It’s important to find a reputable private dentist who explains all the options for treatment and the costs involved.

If you’re unhappy with the way your mouth looks and would like to do something about it here’s some advice from the British Dental Health Foundation.

What is cosmetic dentistry?

Dentistry is no longer just a case of filling and extracting teeth, as it was for many years. Nowadays, many people turn to cosmetic dentistry, or ‘aesthetic dentistry’, as a way of improving their appearance, much as they would use cosmetic surgery or even a new hairstyle. The treatments can be used to straighten, lighten, reshape and repair teeth. Cosmetic treatments include veneers, crowns, bridges and tooth-coloured fillings.

What is a veneer and why might I need one?

Veneers are thin slices of porcelain, precisely made to fit over the visible surface of front teeth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail. They are an ideal way of treating discoloured or unsightly teeth, closing gaps between front teeth, or repairing chips and cracks.

Veneers are made by a dental technician in a laboratory, using impressions taken by the dentist. They are bonded to the tooth to form a strong and natural-looking repair. Sometimes a natural colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain. Composite veneers can be completed in one visit and involve bonding tooth-coloured filling material to the front of the tooth. Although these veneers are slightly more prone to staining and have a shorter life, they are easily replaced.

Can I use veneers to close the gaps between my front teeth?

Yes, using tooth-coloured material or porcelain, the dentist can change the shape or size of the tooth slightly, closing the gap between the teeth.

How much will a veneer cost?

In some cases veneers can be available on the NHS, but this type of treatment is usually classed as cosmetic and would therefore only be available privately. Costs vary from practice to practice and from region to region. It’s important to discuss treatment options and charges with your dentist and it’s always recommended that you get a written estimate before starting treatment.

Can I have white fillings?

For more than 150 years standard fillings have been made out of a silvery-grey material called ‘amalgam’. This is still one of the strongest and longest-lasting materials available for fillings, but many people find it unattractive and some are concerned about possible health risks.

White fillings are now becoming a popular alternative to amalgam fillings. New dental materials mean it is much easier to find a perfect match for the shade of a particular tooth and in most cases, it’s impossible to see that the tooth even has a filling.

My tooth is badly broken – what can I do?

When a tooth is badly broken or heavily filled, the dentist might need to crown or ‘cap’ it to restore its appearance and strength. Crowns can be made of different materials, such as porcelain or porcelain bonded to gold. New materials are continually being introduced and there are different crowns for different situations.

How much will a crown cost?

On the NHS, tooth-coloured crowns are available on teeth near the front of the mouth from the first pre-molar tooth forwards. Many people want to have tooth-coloured crowns for teeth that are further back, but these are only available privately. Costs vary, so always get an estimate and discuss all possible treatment options with your dentist before starting treatment.

What is a bridge?

Bridges are ideal for people who have one or two teeth missing. Conventional bridges are made by crowning the teeth on either side of the gap and attaching a false tooth in the middle. They are fixed in the same way as crowns and are usually made of precious metal bonded to porcelain. Sometimes other non-precious metals are used in the base for strength.

How much will a bridge cost?

Bridge work is expensive because of the time, materials and expertise involved. Even bridges covered by the NHS cost more than most other treatments. It is important to get a written estimate of the costs involved before starting.

Can I have teeth screwed in?

You can have ‘implants’ as an alternative to dentures or bridgework, but they are more expensive. Implants are titanium rods, which are surgically placed into the jawbone, leaving parts sticking out through the gum. These act as anchors for fastening dentures or crowns.

How can I make my teeth whiter?

Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it will lighten the existing shade.

What does tooth whitening involve?

Professional bleaching is the most common form of tooth whitening. Your dentist will apply the whitening product to your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a gum-shield. The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.

Once your dentist has started this treatment you will need to continue it at home. The total treatment can usually be done within three to four weeks. This means regularly applying the whitening product at home over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.

There are some new products that can be applied for up to eight hours at a time, which means a satisfactory result can be achieved in as little as one week.

What other tooth whitening procedures are there?

There is now laser whitening or ‘power whitening’. During this treatment a light or laser is shone on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the chemical reaction of the whitening product and the colour change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening can make teeth up to five or six shades lighter. This procedure usually takes about one hour.

How much does tooth whitening cost?

You can’t get whitening treatments on the NHS. Private charges vary from practice to practice. Laser or power whitening is more expensive than professional bleaching. Ask for a written estimate of the cost before you start any treatment.

Can my crooked or twisted teeth be straightened?

Teeth can be straightened with orthodontics (braces). This is usually done during the teenage years, when the teeth are going through a period of growth, but many adults also have treatment to straighten their crooked teeth or to approve their appearance.

Cosmetic contouring can also be used to improve the appearance of teeth and is ideal if you have slightly crowded teeth. It takes about one hour and is less expensive than other forms of cosmetic treatment.

What is tooth jewellery?

Tooth jewellery involves sticking small accessories onto the teeth, usually gems, or gold or silver shapes. They are stuck onto the teeth using dental cement and can easily be removed if necessary.

You should get advice from a dentist if you are considering tooth jewellery. A dentist has the skills and knowledge needed to apply the jewellery safely and will be able to advise you how to care for your teeth afterwards. It is important to keep to a good oral hygiene routine at home as you may find you are more likely to get dental decay if this area is not kept clean.

Is mouth piercing safe?

Piercing the mouth, lips or tongue is not recommended for a number of reasons. When the piercing is first done, there is a high risk of infection, inflammation of the surrounding tissues or even severe blood infections.

Piercing the tongue can cause it to swell. It can also cause damage such as chipping and fracturing to other opposing teeth. It can also affect speech, eating and swallowing and make oral hygiene difficult to maintain.

Piercings, particularly on the tongue, can make dental treatment difficult, especially if x-rays are needed.