Tooth jewelry (ornaments for teeth) are becoming more and more popular. From the dentist's point of view, this is a rather cosmetic topic, but it is worth learning a bit more before choosing this type of jewelry. How are tooth jewelery put on and is it safe?

Tooth jewelry( teeth ornaments ) is a cosmetic dental issue related to the improvement of appearance. More and more offices offer wearing ornaments on the teeth. Tooth jewelry takes the form of small ornaments stuck to the teeth. Ornaments are usually placed on the upper front teeth, on their labial surface. Lateral incisors and canines are often chosen for this purpose. Jewelry of this type is designed to illuminate a smile, add something original to our appearance. There are many designs, colors and shapes of tooth jewelery on the market. You can find dental ornaments made of yellow and white gold, of base metals, in the form of diamonds or crystals. The price of tooth jewelry depends on the material from which it is made, the shape of the ornament and, of course, the manufacturer.

How to put on tooth jewelry?

Most of the currently installed dental ornaments do not require the so-called drilling. The procedure is limited to cleaning the tooth and sticking the selected ornament in the right place with the use of adhesive bonding systems. Tooth-colored liquid composite materials are used. The material is cured for the appropriate time of exposure to blue light. The entire procedure is painless and short. Putting on dental jewelery takes about 15-20 minutes. The connection of the ornament with the tooth usually takes about 6-12 months. It sometimes happens that the ornament comes off earlier or remains in the mouth for several years. If we are not satisfied with our choice and would like to get rid of the jewelry earlier - it is possible, the procedure is reversible. To do this, go to the office, preferably the one where the jewelry was worn.

What are the risks of tooth jewelery?

Tooth jewelry is a rather safe solution (we are talking about jewelry worn by a qualified person, not the one worn at home). The condition is maintaining proper oral hygiene. Tooth ornamentsthey are a place of plaque accumulation and bacterial growth, which is associated with an increased risk of caries and gum disease. In rare cases, slight discoloration in the form of white spots may appear on the surface of the enamel. Removing ornaments is associated with micro-damage to the surface layers of the enamel.

Very rare complications include erosions or wounds of the mucosa in the projection of the applied ornament. They take on the image of shallow, painful depressions in the oral mucosa. Most often they heal spontaneously.

An equally rare complication after wearing tooth jewelry are allergic reactions to chemicals, most often metals, contained in the ornament. Their common cause may be nickel, which can be part of the metal alloy used to make the ornament.

Occasionally, postoperative hypersensitivity may occur or teeth may break.

If jewelery is cemented beforehand, it may be swallowed or aspirated. While swallowing a small ornament is unlikely to cause problems, choking may become a he alth and life-threatening complication.

How to take care of oral hygiene with dental jewelery

There are no additional special oral hygiene requirements for people who wear dental jewelery. Basic hygiene rules, i.e. brushing your teeth at least twice a day, using rinses and dental floss should be enough to properly control plaque. To clean your teeth, you can use both standard manual toothbrushes and recently popular electric toothbrushes. Regular visits to the dentist's office are also recommended in order to catch early pathological conditions.