It is Never Too Late to Straighten Your Teeth

For many years, people have used their teeth to make either a social or style statement, even when the practices were not so healthy for their teeth. From dental staining to chiseling, some of the most unusual dental modifications may be a thing of the past, but that does not mean that there are not more modern ways in which people are altering the appearance of their smile. If you are looking to make your own statement by changing your teeth, you may want to carefully discuss the ramifications of making changes before you decide to try out some of the unusual modern modifications. 

Dental Piercings

For a small price with the right body modification professional, you can have small holes drilled in your teeth to hold an actual piercing. You may spend your whole life trying to avoid holes in your teeth through good dental hygiene, but dental piercings will actually leave you with a sparkling unique touch. But what would your dentist have to say? Even though this practice is becoming quite common, it does not mean that professional dentists accept this as a healthy practice. 

Anytime you compromise the enamel of your tooth you are putting the tooth at risk for decay and discoloration. This is because the enamel is the protective layer that protects the inner soft bone tissue of your tooth. Deliberately having a hole drilled through any of your teeth will likely have your dentist giving you heaps of warnings about the dangers of the practice and a recommendation to have the piercing removed and the hole filled. 

Tooth Tattoos

Even though tooth tattoos may not be as invasive as they sound, they are still a practice that can leave you with permanent damage to your existing tooth. Tooth tattoos are actually crowns that are specifically designed to bear a certain image or symbol. Even though crowns are commonly used in dentistry to cover a tooth that is deteriorating or in bad shape, choosing to have a crown when you really do not need one could cause permanent damage to an otherwise healthy tooth. The crown has to be bonded to your existing tooth after grinding down a portion of the tooth's surface. Therefore, once you have a crown placed, your original tooth will never be the same. 

The bottom line is, before you ever consider modifying your smile for unusual cosmetic purposes, you should consult with your dentist. Once you understand the risks and dangers you could be causing for aesthetic purposes, you may decide that the change is not worth the risks involved. If you're looking for a dentist in your area, visit Alegre Dental and Braces.