Have you ever seen someone with jewelry on their teeth? This might seem like a harmless form of self-expression, until you talk to a dentist. While jewel adhesion with FDA-approved glue is safely offered by the rare dentist, bejeweling one’s teeth can actually cause a great deal of tooth damage. The American Dental Association (ADA) hopes that such a trend will not ever take off on a grand scale, as tooth jewelry can trap food and bacteria. This presents a great opportunity for tooth decay to fester and create long term damage to teeth. Your Deerfield dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg, discusses some of the most unusual cosmetic dental trends in the last few years.
Widening One’s Gap
Model and former talk-show host, Tyra Banks, made news in 2010 when she suggested that one of the contestants on the show America’s Next Top Model undergo a pretty extreme cosmetic dental procedure. The contestant was a twenty-two-year-old girl by the name of Chelsey Hersey. She appeared on the show with a small existing gap in between her two front teeth. When patients opt to close gaps, dentists usually recommend dental bonding. On the advice of Tyra Banks and the producers of the show, however, Ms. Hersey turned to a cosmetic dentist to shave off 0.25 millimeters of each tooth to make her gap wider.
Vampires are In
With vampire movies being a big Hollywood trend over the last several years, a small segment of the population has opted to have their teeth permanently reshaped to appear like fangs. Such cosmetic alterations are dangerous from a dental health perspective, unfortunately. Shaving away too much of your tooth enamel and dentin can pose a real oral health risk. Dr. Matthew Messina, an advisor to the ADA, reminds people that filing teeth is likely to weaken their natural structure, making them prone to breaking. And, of course, should one’s vampire days end up being just a momentary fad, extensive cosmetic dental work are more likely to be in your future than eternal life.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Deerfield
If you are interested in more conservative cosmetic dental work to create a natural smile, Dr. Engelberg can help you achieve the smile of your dreams. To schedule a consultation, call our 60061 dentist office at 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
