Trendy through and through. Dental rhinestones, these mini-crystals glued rather than screwed onto the teeth, are making a comeback with the hashtag #toothgems, which has more than 467.3 million views on TikTok.
Popular in the 2000s, Angèle, Dua Lipa and Rosalía also adopted them. But this trend goes far beyond fashion and glamour.
“It helps you accept your teeth and regain self-confidence when you smile,” says Shana, a “gems artist” who trained as a dental prosthetist before applying rhinestones for a year. “It’s not just aesthetic,” she continues. This trend has an important psychological aspect. Rhinestones are a way to beautify teeth, but above all they help to alleviate complexes at a time when films and social networks highlight well-aligned white teeth. »
In the form of tiny stars or hearts for 20 euros, compositions forming a butterfly or a flower for 60 euros, or for a simple (fake) diamond for 25 euros, “gems” are diamonds stuck to the dental walls with a specific glue. They sometimes take the form of a fresco, unless the composition is precisely adapted to the client’s dentition.
“You send me a photo of your smile and you tell me your budget, it can go between 40 and 100 euros,” announces Shana. From there, I offer you several design options. It’s great to be able to personalize the rhinestones according to the shape of the customer’s teeth, smile, and way of speaking. The composition is really my favorite part. » And money should not be a barrier for her, nor for her clients.
“Just like tattoos, piercings or nails, you have to pay the price to get something of quality. But precisely, as it is a service which can help people to accept themselves, I would like everyone to be able to have access to it. So it’s on purpose that my prices are a little below average.”
A dazzling smile, under what conditions?
Left in inexperienced hands, the practice can leave something to be desired and its results become the terror of dentists. Because it is they who, most often, are required to provide after-sales service. “Touching your teeth is not something trivial,” warns Dr. Lequart. 20 minutes. “Putting on rhinestones can lead to cavities if hygiene is not respected,” underlines the dental surgeon and spokesperson for the French Union for Oral Health.
“Above all, you need to have good dental hygiene,” advises Nour, orthodontist in Malakoff. If you want to apply dental rhinestones, I strongly recommend going through professionals to ensure that the products used are regulated in Europe. » To minimize the risks, Nour, like Dr Lequart, gives three essential tips.
- “First of all, make sure you have good dental health by checking for tartar before installing the rhinestones. This will improve the adhesion of the gems and reduce the risk of falling. »
- “For installation, go to professionals, the rhinestones will be less likely to come off, because the glue used is the same as that used to install dental braces. »
- “After applying the rhinestones, it is recommended to brush your teeth thoroughly, including around and on the rhinestones. »
- “Finally, make an appointment with the dentist to remove the rhinestones and glue, instead of ripping them off yourself, to prevent any damage to tooth enamel. »
Precautions which are not always respected, regret these professionals who fear the kits that can be found for less than 10 euros on mail order sites. We understand that dentists and orthodontists do not always look favorably on dental decorations…
Common ground between creativity and dental health
“I absolutely do not recommend applying rhinestones yourself,” confirms Shana. I have seen people use poor quality nail glue, eyelash glue, or rhinestones that contain lead, even though these can be harmful and seriously damage the tooth. I really recommend consulting a qualified provider, or even taking training, as I did myself. »
Trained by another dental surgeon, the gem artist only installs Swarovski crystals which she fixes with composite dental glue. She encourages her clients to do a check before installation and to remove the rhinestones at the dentist if necessary.
This is the procedure that Eva-Louisa followed. This client of Shana testifies to the positive impact of dental rhinestones. “Before, I put my hand in front of my mouth when I smiled, and today that is no longer the case,” shares the young woman who had her rhinestones applied last June. Now I no longer have this reflex. On the contrary, I love them. The rhinestones have given me back my confidence, and even if I take them off one day at the dentist, I will feel more comfortable with my smile, so I definitely recommend. »
A speech that Shana says she hears regularly. His compositions are planned to last between a month and a year.