-We do protect the integrity of the tooth.
We do apply the gem in a way
where it is saving as much enamel as possible.
♪♪
-I'm Ebonee Davis, and I'm getting tooth gems done today.
♪♪
I want to get tooth gems because I think it's just a cool way
to customize your smile.
Open your mouth, you got a little bling,
you know what I mean?
I've never had braces before.
I've never had Invisalign.
Shoutout to my parentals for, you know, the fire dentals.
I think of myself as, like, a rock star,
so a tooth gem very much fits into that category.
I think tooth gems can be a fashion statement.
I also think that there has to be a certain level of respect
with everything that you do and understanding the origin
of where certain trends come from.
But ultimately, I just want these tooth gems to, like,
further express my personality and show who I am to the world.
-I'm Lindsay Pierce.
I'm the owner of Wax Melrose in Los Angeles, California.
I opened up Wax at the beginning of 2020.
I actually took it over from the previous owner.
In the last five to six years,
I've definitely seen an influx of people wanting tooth gems.
I love that Dua Lipa just got them for the Grammys.
It's definitely an elevated way to express yourself.
You know which tooth you want to do?
-Yeah, I want to do my canine.
-Alright, let's get started.
First, I will consult with my client to choose gem color,
gem size, and placement in the mouth.
Then I will use a dental round to separate the lip
from the gum.
This ensures that I have a clean area to work with
and that there's no cross-contamination
where the gum could touch the gem.
Then I will sanitize the tooth with rubbing alcohol.
I use a dental round for this to ensure
that the surface of the tooth is clean and smooth
and that the gem will adhere properly.
Then I will take the etching primer,
apply it to the tooth only in the area
that I'm going to be applying the gem.
The etching primer breaks down the enamel of the tooth
to open up so we have a porous surface to work with.
Then I will apply the composite.
It's similar to a composite that's used for braces.
Then I will take the wax pencil, pick up my gem,
and apply it to the tooth surface.
Before I cure,
because once I use the curing light,
we cannot move the gem,
I show my client the placement to ensure that she's happy.
I will cure the tooth for two rounds in 20 seconds.
Just to be sure that the composite
has adhered to the tooth.
After the curing,
I like to take a microfiber brush to press on the gem
just to ensure that it is safely bonded.
I'll inform my client, Ebonee,
to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking.
This gives the composite ample time to finish curing.
Alright, let's have a look at the final result.
-Aah! [ Chuckles ]
I love it. I love the bling.
My initial reaction to the look was excitement,
but I think it's going to take some time for me to get used to
because I've had the same smile for many, many years.
So to look in the mirror and see something different
is like, "What's going on?"
But I think they're beautiful.
I think they're super cool.
-So for Ebonee, we went with the gold palm tree,
and then we did two different kinds of Swarovski crystals.
We did the aurora borealis and then the pink.
So we only use Swarovski crystals.
Those are known to have the lowest,
almost .001, amount of lead.
You do have to be careful with the gem quality
because if it does have lead, you could poison yourself.
Each gem costs $75 dollars.
If you would like an additional gem, it's $35,
and then we also offer a disco ball,
which is the entire tooth, and that's for $150.
We also offer 18-karat gold gems,
which are very custom-made, and those are $150, as well.
So for aftercare, for the next 24 hours,
your tooth could be sensitive, so just be gentle.
After that, you can brush as normal,
does not obstruct any of the surface of the tooth,
and you can continue on.
They'll last for anywhere from six months to two years.
The only thing I would say
is if you're biting into anything hard,
just make sure that it's not directly where the gem is
because it could fall off.
Right now, I can kind of feel the gems, like, in my mouth.
You know, there's like a little bit of texture on my teeth
that wouldn't normally be there,
but I feel like after a couple of days,
my brain is just going to be, like, totally used to it.
I think I'll definitely change up the tooth gems over time,
especially now that I know how simple the process is
and that there's so many different varieties
and ways that I can get them styled.
It's just like changing your hair
or, like, making any kind of, like, physical change.
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