You can place a tattoo almost anywhere on your body — your forearm, neck, back, ankle, chest, and even your face. But did you know that now you can place tattoos on your teeth? Yes, your teeth. Although tooth tattoos are not new, they seems to be picking up steam with many people wanting to demonstrate to others how unique they are by inking their teeth. But what exactly is a tooth tattoo and how do you get one? Read on to learn the basics of tooth tattoos.
History of Tooth Tattoos
The first tooth tattoo was created about 20 years ago by Suburban Dental Laboratory. A patient wanted a corvette on his tooth. Since then the laboratory has seen all types of tattoo requests, including shamrocks, pugs, and messages.
Over the years, lab technicians have honed their skills and they can provide you with nearly any type of tattoo you can conceive.
The cost of getting a tooth tattoo is about $200, but if you want an elaborate design or multiple colors, you will need to pay a little extra.
Who Can Get a Tooth Tattoo?
Not everyone can get a tooth tattoo. In order to get one, you have to need a dental crown. Dental crowns are caps placed over damaged teeth. These caps help you restore your smile by completely hiding the tooth underneath. With a cap, you get the look and feel of an actual tooth in your mouth. The benefits of getting a crown include:
- Straightening your teeth
- Protecting sensitive teeth
- Replacing fillings
- Repairing a chipped tooth
- Making teeth look better
Tooth tattoos are restricted to individuals who are getting a dental crown because of the process of creating them, including the fact that crowns have to be subjected to a 212-degree oven.
What’s the Process for Getting a Tooth Tattoo?
Of course, there must be an actual need, so the process begins with talking to your dentist about getting a crown for your tooth. If your dentist recommends that you get a crown then he or she will take an impression of your teeth. Your dentist will also allow you to choose what tattoo you want on your tooth. Like choosing a tattoo for your body, you can choose from an assortment of tattoos from the basic to elaborate designs.
In addition to choosing the tattoo that represents you, you must determine the location of your tooth tattoo. Many people choose to get their tooth tattoos on one of their teeth along the jaw of their mouth while others may choose to have it placed on the inside of their teeth near their tongue.
After the impression, your dentist will likely place a temporary crown in your mouth, which will help you get used to wearing a crown until your permanent crown arrives.
Armed with the tattoo and the impression, your dentist will then send both to the lab. Dental labs can create crowns in about two weeks. Once your dentist receives your crown, he or she will schedule you for an appointment so that they can cement your crown in place. Getting a tooth tattoo is as painless as getting a crown because the tattoos are already on your crown once it is placed in your mouth.
The Removal Process
Even though tooth tattoos do not come off as a result of eating or drinking, you can have them removed. By scheduling an appointment with your dentist, you can have the tattoo removed in a matter of minutes if you get tired of it. Your dentist will buff off the tattoo with a dental brush, removing the tattoo completely while leaving your dental crown in place.
If you are a trendsetter in need of a dental crown, you may want to ask your dentist about getting a tooth tattoo. With just a few additional steps added to the process of getting a crown, you can have a unique tooth tattoo that can easily provide you with a conversation started in many different social settings.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Share
The post Should You Ink Your Teeth? The Basics of Tooth Tattoos appeared first on ChooseYourDentist.com.