Fancy clothes, shimmery makeup, killer shoes — what's missing from your holiday arsenal? Gleaming white teeth, which last well beyond New Year's and happen to be more versatile than even your LBD.

But how do you go about getting those sparkling white chompers? There are several different treatments available, explains Dr. Andy Chang.

Dr. Chang heads up Elite Dental Associates, the Uptown Dallas practice known for its expert staff and stress-free appointments. Although the Baylor-trained Dr. Chang is an ADA-specialist in prosthodontics (cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry), he's also an excellent resource for routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, and crowns.

But back to getting rid of those coffee and red wine stains on your teeth. Here are three important things you need to know:

1. Always get your teeth cleaned before whitening. Always.
"You wouldn't wax a dirty car," Dr. Chang says. "So why would you try to whiten your teeth without polishing them first?" Not only does getting a professional cleaning prep the teeth to better receive the treatment, it also alerts the dentist to any potential problems that may have developed since your last appointment and may prohibit you from whitening immediately. New and existing patients at Elite Dental can get ZOOM whitening for free when they book an exam and cleaning — just call them for more details.

2. There is a difference between in-office and at-home treatments.
Just as you suspect that the drugstore strips work differently from professional treatments, in-office whitening produces a different result from at-home trays. At Elite Dental, you can undergo ZOOM, EZ White, or a comparable treatment and see major results —two to eight shades on the dental color chart — in just one visit. Or you can have trays fitted to your mouth that you fill with a whitening gel and wear for a minimum of two weeks. Remember that results do vary from patient to patient.

3. Keeping your teeth white requires maintenance.
You won't want to hear it, but all that coffee and red wine is what got you here in the first place. Acidic foods and beverages wear down your enamel, which in turn makes it easier for highly pigmented goodies to change your teeth's color over time. Be conscious of what you're consuming after your whitening treatment (drinking through a straw really does help) to keep your smile white for as long as possible.

To book your appointment with Dr. Chang, visit the Elite Dental Associates website or call 214-220-2424.