Are Snap-on Teeth "All That?"

Feb. 15, 2007 , Los Angeles and Beverly Hills - Is there any quicker fix for a perfect smile than the new snap-on teeth ? Also known as the Snap-on Smile T and clip-on smile , snap-ons have received a great deal of attention by the media.

These custom, removable molds fit, or "snap," directly over a patient's existing teeth. The dentist first makes a mold of the existing teeth, from which a cast is created and sent to the lab. The new snap-ons are custom made to the patient's desired shape and shade.

In a rather macabre twist, clients can select from a variety of smiles they'd like reproduced, with the majority choosing to recreate the grins of their favorite celebrities. The top three belong to Jessica Simpson, Halle Barry and Britney Spears. Men can choose from Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise.

Many satisfied customers sing their praise while dentists credit the products with bringing patients into their offices, allowing for thorough evaluations of reticent patients.

Critics, however, say this trend is indicative of patient's making cosmetic-dental decisions based on form, rather than function. In the last five years, tooth whitening alone has grown by more than 300 percent. The use of implants , veneers , inlays and onlays also have increased exponentially.

Because many of these procedures aren't covered by dental insurance and may be out of a patient's price range, the relatively inexpensive snap-ons look like a good alternative.

Clip-ons offer several advantages as they:

• Allow a patient to choose which smile they'd like to have;
• Requires no drilling, adhesives or change of tooth structure to apply;
• Take only minutes to apply;
• Are made of a flexible materials that allows them to adapt to each mouth;
• Bend and retract with your tooth structure, an elasticity that avoids breakage or cracking; and
• Run about $1,500 per row, as compared to roughly $1,000 for a single veneer.

Many dentists see an added advantage in the application of snap-ons for dental-phobic patients. Once they've experienced this minimally invasive procedure and experienced excellent results, studies have shown they're more likely to return for permanent care.

Snap-ons also are useful for patients interested in upgrading their smiles for weddings, class reunions and job interviews. Others may try them out to preview results they'll enjoy with permanent crowns or veneers .

The problems are wide ranging, including:

• a potential danger to a patient's oral health;
• the life-span of the product is severely reduced from traditional treatments
• dentists recommend patients avoid eating while wearing the snap-ons;
• the products loosen with use; and
• worn continuously, bacteria can accumulate under the snap-on, causing decay or inflammation of the gums

LEARN MORE

Call top cosmetic dentist Dr. Anthony Mobasser today at 1.310.550.0383 or email us to schedule an appointment and learn more about Snap-on SmilesT.