Vampire Teeth for Halloween
With Halloween coming up I am planning my costume. I am going as a vampire and thought that, instead of getting those cheap, uncomfortable, not to mention fake-looking costume teeth, I could go all out and get Lumineers for just those teeth and then have them removed after the holiday. Is this do-able?
Jay
Dear Jay,
This is a request dentists get every year at this time. It can be done, but not the way you suggested. Because Lumineers are promoted as being a no-prep veneer, patients mistakenly assume they can just remove them and go back to their normal teeth. Unfortunately, even if their enamel is still intact, it likely won’t be by the time the Lumineers are removed. Porcelain, which is what Lumineers made from, is a very hard substance. Removing them without damaging the underlying enamel is highly unlikely at best.
That doesn’t mean you can’t get those terrifying teeth you want for Halloween. Instead of using porcelain veneers to do it, I’m going to suggest you find a dentist who is skilled in dental bonding. Instead of porcelain, this uses a composite resin which is much easier to remove without damaging the enamel beneath it.
Most cosmetic dentists are able to do this. You should be aware, many of them will require you sign an agreement that you will return within a certain period of time to have the bloodsucking implements of creating the undead removed. While most dentists are fine with a little cosplay fun, they don’t want to get involved with someone who wants them permanently for occult purposes. As long as you’re willing to come back and have them removed shortly after Halloween you shouldn’t have a problem finding someone willing to do it.
Removing Dental Bonding Safely
- Sandpaper disks are the easiest. They are flexible in a way that allows the dentist to really get around the shape of the tooth. Because they leave a smooth, highly polished surface, dentists also use them to polish composites.
- Air abrasion is another option. However, you may have a hard time finding a dentist who has the equipment.
- Sand-blasting nozzles can work and more dentists have these. They’re called a micro-etcher. The only downside to this is it is a slow method. It’s a great finishing step to clean things up after using a faster method to get rid of the bulk of the material.
- In the category of faster methods is a high-speed carbide drill. They are made for polishing. Their downside is they leave streaks on the tooth. It’s recommended your dentist finish up with a sandpaper disk to tidy everything up.
This blog is brought to you by Naperville Cosmetic Dentist Dr. David Newkirk.