Dental Trend or Dental Disaster?

How far are you willing to go to be a part of a trend? Or, on the other hand, how far would you go to buck trends and look different? When you see someone with a face literally full of piercings, and a body covered with tattoos, do you thing “ouch!” or “awesome!?” Self expression through appearance is a part of human nature, transcending cultures, transcending time. You can look deep into the annals of history and see the different ways that people used to express allegiance or enhance beauty through markings on their physical self. What about smiles? In America, we tend to think a straight, white, complete smile is the most attractive. Some parts of the world might have different standards. There are still some people who go to a whole different level when designing the way their smile looks.

Bling for the Smile

Jewels on your fingers, around your neck, or even through your ears are common. Have you ever seen someone with jewels on their teeth? Temporary jewels bonded to one’s smile is an actual trend that may sound harmless enough. The American Dental Association (ADA) feels differently about the matter, however. A hard jewel without dental grade bonding can scratch or permanently damage your enamel, opening you up to decay. Furthermore, jewels can trap food and bacteria beneath them. As this debris sits, it attracts and feeds germs, allowing acid buildup and opening your teeth up to decay.

Spacing Out

A diastema is the clinical name for a gap in your teeth. It’s common for people to not enjoy the look of wide spaces between permanent teeth. There are fixes for diastemas, including braces, oral surgery, or cosmetic procedures like porcelain dental veneers and dental bonding. Surprisingly enough, there are very unique dental patients who opt to make their gaps even wider. By shaving off small amounts of tooth structure, anyone can be the bearer of a great, big tooth gap. Just remember, it’s easier to take it off than it is to put it back.

I Vant to Suck your Blood

Halloween is a great time to think about dressing like a vampire. But what if you never want Halloween to end? Some people are so taken with the look of vampires that they want to sport the signature look of a sharp fanged Dracula type. Dental contouring makes this possible, but the process poses real oral health risks. Apart from the fact that you may render your teeth much weaker by filing them, you will probably not hope to look like a vampire forever. Better to stick with the plastic types you can find at a costume shop.

Visit your Glencoe Cosmetic Dentist