00:01We do protect the integrity of the tooth.
00:04We do apply the gem in a way where it is saving as much enamel as possible.
00:14I'm Ebony Davis, and I'm getting tooth gems done today.
00:20I want to get tooth gems because I think it's just a cool way to customize your smile, open mouth,
00:25you got a little bling, you know what I mean?
00:26I've never had braces before. I've never had Invisalign.
00:30Shout out to my parentals for, you know, the fire dentals.
00:33I think of myself as like a rock star, so a tooth gem very much fits into that category.
00:39I think tooth gems can be a fashion statement.
00:43I also think that there has to be a certain level of respect with everything that you do
00:48and understanding the origin of where certain trends come from.
00:53Ultimately, I just want these tooth gems to like further express my personality and show who I am to the
00:59world.
01:00I'm Lindsey Pierce. I'm the owner of Wax Melrose in Los Angeles, California.
01:05I opened up Wax at the beginning of 2020.
01:08I actually took it over from the previous owner.
01:11In the last five to six years, I've definitely seen an influx of people wanting tooth gems.
01:17I love that Dua Lipa just got them for the Grammys.
01:20It's definitely an elevated way to express yourself.
01:23You know which tooth you want to do?
01:25Yeah, I want to do my canine.
01:27Alright, let's get started.
01:28First, I will consult with my client to choose gem color, gem size, and placement in the mouth.
01:36Then I will use a dental round to separate the lip from the gums.
01:43This ensures that I have a clean area to work with
01:47and that there's no cross-contamination where the gum could touch the gem.
01:52Then I will sanitize the tooth with rubbing alcohol.
01:56I use a dental round for this to ensure that the surface of the tooth is clean and smooth
02:02and that the gem will adhere properly.
02:04Then I will take the etching primer, apply it to the tooth only in the area that I'm going to
02:11be applying the gem.
02:12The etching primer breaks down the enamel of the tooth to open up so we have a porous surface to
02:19work with.
02:20Then I will apply the composite.
02:22It's similar to a composite that's used for braces.
02:27Then I will take the wax pencil, pick up my gem, and apply it to the tooth surface.
02:34Before I cure, because once I use the curing light we cannot move the gem,
02:38I show my client the placement to ensure that she's happy.
02:42I will cure the tooth for two rounds of 20 seconds just to be sure that the composite has adhered
02:50to the tooth.
02:52After the curing, I like to take a microfiber brush to press on the gem just to ensure that it
02:59is safely bonded.
03:01I'll inform my client Ebony to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking.
03:06This gives the composite ample time to finish curing.
03:11Alright, let's have a look at the final result.
03:16I love it. I love the bling.
03:19My initial reaction to the look was excitement, but I think it's going to take some time for me to
03:24get used to
03:25because I've had the same smile for many, many years.
03:28So to look in the mirror and see something different is like, what's going on?
03:33But I think they're beautiful. I think they're super cool.
03:35So for Ebony, we went with the gold palm tree and then we did two different kinds of Swarovski crystals.
03:42We did the aurora borealis and then the pink.
03:44So we only use Swarovski crystals. Those are known to have the lowest, almost .001 amount of lead.
03:53You do have to be careful with the gem quality because if it does have lead, you could poison yourself.
03:59Each gem costs $75. If you would like an additional gem, it's $35.
04:05And then we also offer a disco ball, which is the entire tooth, and that's for $150.
04:10We also offer 18 karat gold gems, which are very custom made, and those are $150 as well.
04:17So for aftercare, for the next 24 hours, your tooth could be sensitive. Just be gentle.
04:22After that, you can brush as normal. It does not obstruct any of the surface of the tooth.
04:26And you can continue on. They'll last for anywhere from six months to two years.
04:31The only thing I would say is if you're biting into anything hard, just make sure that it's not directly
04:36where the gem is because it could fall off.
04:38Right now, I can kind of feel the gems like in my mouth. You know, there's like a little bit
04:43of texture on my teeth that wouldn't normally be there.
04:46But I feel like after a couple of days, my brain is just going to be like totally used to
04:51it.
04:51I think I'll definitely change up the tooth gems over time, especially now that I know how simple the process
04:56is and that there's so many different varieties and ways that I can get them styled.
05:02It's just like changing your hair or like, you know, making any kind of like physical change.
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