An Unusual Dentist-remarkable New Products And Procedures

Does your dentist perform tooth tattoos? No? Well, he must at least offer bacon-flavored toothpaste. It was only a matter of time before people grew bored of coloring and chopping their hair, putting holes in their skin, and manipulating other parts of their body before they realized that their smile was lacking something...unique. There are several bizarre, funny, and downright frightening dental procedures and products in the world today, but you are not likely to see many offered at your local family practice. Here are some strange trends and their more acceptable counterparts.

The Weird
Artists have yet to ink living teeth, but there are a few dental technicians who have greatly modernized the art of creating dentures and crowns. For less than a hundred dollars (in addition to the cost of the tooth or bridge) some technicians will illustrate a small piece of artwork so you can have your very own little cheeky secret. While you can be daring and get your front tooth inked up, most customers wisely choose a tattoo located near the cheek, where it can be revealed to shock, horrify, or impress your next date. Color or black and white are possible, with portraits, oddly enough, being one of the more popular subjects.

The Normal
Although the tattoo can be sanded down painlessly by your dentist once you realize that flashing your oral portrait of Mr. T is rapidly transforming you into "that creepy tooth guy" at every party, more people choose to go the route of traditional crowns, dentures, or veneers to replace missing and damaged teeth. A good dental tech will have the skills to match the color, size, and shape to fit seamlessly in with your existing teeth, or to improve your smile for better overall facial harmony.

The Weird
Bacon, cupcakes, chocolate, and bananas-while all tasty, few people associate these flavors with oral hygiene. Somebody out there does though, which is why specialty shops across the country are stocking up on funky flavors to entice those who are fed up with such staples as mint, winter mint, spearmint, and blast of mint.

The Normal
Mint can get tiresome, and sometimes the flavor is so powerful it will burn your taste buds for the next two hours after brushing. However, if you just can't take another minty freshness ploy, most brands still produce original flavor or the toned down but still palatable vanilla, orange, and lemon varieties.

The Weird
Vampire fangs-they're everywhere, from teen flicks to adult dramas. People want to look like blood suckers so badly that they're asking their dentist to file those canines into sharp points. Few professionals will perform such a procedure, but they are out there. Removable snap-on fangs are a much more realistic option if you're dying to be Dracula.

The Normal
Your average man or woman wants to file down those pointy distractions. Twisted canines, or snaggleteeth, can be fixed by wearing braces, applying veneers, or replacing with dental implants, resulting in a much more even and attractive smile.