I remember reading about this trend a couple of weeks ago (one that involves attaching jewels to your teeth), and wondering what was going on in dentists’ minds when they read about it—did they dismiss it as harmless, or did the prospect of attaching rhinestones, pearls, and gems to the teeth concern them or strike them as odd? I’ve only seen celebrities subscribe to this trend, but I caught myself wondering whether they’re wearable in an everyday-like context—or exclusive to our mood-boards on Instagram.
A little about why this trend is all over our feeds? It was so in between the 90s and 2000s. These accessories were fashioned by rappers and A-list celebrities like Rita Ora and Rihanna, and even Miley Cyrus in recent years. Now, they’re more accessible—what with the close relationship between beauty and self-expression. And just how is this trend revolutionising dentistry?
It’s when I saw Kim K’s stone-encrusted, sparkly-silver teeth unravelling all over her feed that I knew I wanted to know more. I decided to rope in Dr. Diksha Tahilramani Batra to weigh in with her opinion on the subject—from explaining the procedure to me to detailing after-care and side-effects, she sums it up for all of us flawlessly.
Behind The Scenes: An Expert Weighs In On Tooth Gems
I’m intrigued—please tell us how you’d conduct a procedure like this.
Gems on teeth have been around since ancient times—fortunately, instead of drilling the gem into the tooth, technology advanced to a point where we started using superior bonding solutions to attach them onto the teeth making the process completely reversible and minimally invasive. In today’s day and age, when you want to get a bling-y gemstone onto your pearlies, all you
need is a 15-minute appointment that allows us to superficially attach these gems onto your teeth in a shape or design of your choice.
Are these safe? Do they have any negative short-term or long-term effects?
These stones are meant to be safe in the mouth along with the bonding or sticking solutions we use to attach them. The only few things we must keep in mind is that they must be attached in positions which will not interfere with your normal eating and drinking functions. Two critical things to be kept in mind when attaching these stones are
- Enamel present: The gem is applied on the surface of the enamel, or the top layer of the tooth. In case there’s a good amount of enamel, the longevity and success of the procedure is always assured.
- Patient’s Bite: How the jaws meet and the alignment of the teeth play a role in whether one can get these enhancements done. In cases where we see a crowding of the teeth or a heavy bite, the longevity of such a treatment will be compromised—even though it’s still possible to do.
How do you care for your teeth once you’ve attached these gems to them?
Standard oral hygiene measures work but ensuring you are using soft bristle brushes and flossing as well becomes paramount to prevent damage to the teeth and ensuring longevity of the stone in the mouth as well.
How long do these last, and how do you maintain them?
They can last for a couple of years or can be electively removed in just a few days.
How expensive are they?
Style and design are subjective to each patient but depending on the size of the jewels, we’d like want to ensure that there’s space to allow proper hygiene of the tooth between the jewels added or it can become a potential food trap. On average, we see a maximum of two stones per tooth but it can be multiple small-sized ones as well.
Can it just be a tooth-cap instead of an attachment?
Yes, it can be an attachment, which is non-invasive and entirely reversible, or a complete cap which makes the procedure irreversible and more invasive.
Is there any risk of infection?
None unless hygiene is compromised as these are being added on hard surfaces of the teeth. In case of a compromise in hygiene, we do see plaque accumulation leading to dental decay.
While this trend looks attractive virtually, you must keep in mind that this is quite a commitment, and requires a lot of research and consultation with professionals before you decide to go through with it.
Featured Image: Instagram
