The Art of Dental Tattoos

Not sure why anyone would do it but getting tooth tattoos seems to be a growing trend in dentistry.  It can be placed in any of the tooth you have using a crown or pontic (fake tooth that replaces the missing one) on a bridge.

The steps are quite simple.  Inquire with your local dentist if the dental lab they use can create the tattoo.  You then choose a design that will fit the front of the crown.  The dentist will have to sand down the existing tooth where you want the tattooed crown put in.  They then take an impression to be sent to the dental lab.  The lab technicians will carefully apply the image on the crown and then seal it to protect the design.

It usually takes an average of 3 weeks for the lab to process it and once the crown arrives at your dentist’s office, you then come in to have it installed.  The dentist will simply cement the crown in just like any other.  And voila, you have a tattooed tooth you can show off.  It’s usually maintenance free unless cavity starts forming around it at which point the dentist can simply clean the area.  A simple design usually cost $50-$200 in addition to the cost of the crown.  It should ideally last for many years.

Now I don’t know about you but unless you are fond of body art, this isn’t something your average Joe will want to do.  Dentists don’t seem to be too keen on this idea either and not a lot of dental offices offer the cosmetic procedure.  One positive aspect of a tooth tattoo is that it can be helpful to identify bodies just like regular body tattoos.  To remove it, the dentist just gently sands the surface of the crown to get rid of the tattoo.  So, would you get one?