Considering Getting Veneers for Your Wedding Day? Read This First

If you've always been self-conscious about something, it's natural to want to "fix it" before your wedding. After all, you're about to be the center of attention for a day and posing for photos you'll keep forever—and even if it's something seemingly trivial, we know more than anyone that it's important to feel (and look!) confident from the inside out that day.

And while there are several appointments we suggest making in the weeks and months leading up to your wedding, a "veneer" appointment might not immediately come to mind—unless you've previously been insecure about your smile. In which case, we've spoken with cosmetic dentist Michael Apa, DDS to get all the details you need to consider—so you can hopefully have the smile you've always wanted on the day you've always dreamed of.

Know that they're definitely pricey.

If there's one thing you should know going into the process, it's that veneers don't come cheap—and you'll likely have to budget for them in advance.

"It all depends on the complexity of the case," explains Apa. "But each individual veneer can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000—and for a full mouth restoration, you're generally looking at $60,000 to $70,000."

Familiarize yourself with what's fact and what's fiction regarding veneers.

One of the most enduring (and slightly terrifying) myths about veneers is that your doctor will have to cut your entire tooth down in order to implement a veneer. According to Apa, this is completely false. "Depending on the case, there's very little tooth reduction necessary."

In fact, when it comes to porcelain veneers, the risks are pretty minimal. "A porcelain veneer is a dental restoration, which means we're 'restoring' your tooth's functionality and integrity," explains Apa. "When doing so we try to be as minimally invasive as we can so that we can preserve as much of the original tooth structure as possible."

You'll probably need to begin the process around two months before your wedding date.

Although Apa's performed a veneer treatment as close as two weeks before someone's wedding, he typically recommends beginning the process at least a month (or two months to be safe) before your wedding date.

The first step, according to Apa, would be to come for a consultation to understand the right treatment plan for you. While some are simple (aka, can take as little as 10 days from start to finish), others are a longer process.

Make sure you have a "vision" in mind.

Just like you'd research any doctor before seeing them, make sure you choose the right one to perform your veneer treatment.

"There are many dentists out there and not all share the same aesthetic," Apa says.

Get ready to maintain them with brushing, flossing and regular teeth-cleaning.

Good news: You can pretty much treat your veneers like you would natural teeth—so that meets flossing and brushing daily like you normally would. Additionally, Apa recommends professional cleanings every 3 to 4 months to help maintain your overall dental health. (One thing you can't do once you get veneers, however, is whitening treatments.)

All in all, your regimen won't change much. Your porcelain veneers will last long past your wedding day—10 to 20 years and even longer, actually, depending on how well you care for them.