Tooth Gems & Crystals

What are tooth gems?

Tooth gems are mainly placed on the visible surfaces of the front teeth. They sit on the tooth surface and are therefore different from a piercing or jewellery that is embedded in tooth tissue.

For placement, the enamel surface is prepared and materials intended for adhesive use on teeth are used. The tooth gem is then positioned in the desired location and the bonding material is polymerised with a suitable dental curing light.

The fact that a tooth gem is small does not make the technique unimportant. Placement quality is strongly influenced by enamel preparation, control of moisture and saliva, the bonding protocol used, crystal positioning and light curing.

What types of tooth gems and crystals are available?

Tooth gems are available in different materials, sizes and shapes. The choice mainly affects the look and design, but size, contact surface and placement can also make a practical difference.

And gold tooth jewellery?

Gold tooth jewellery also belongs to the category of decorative tooth jewellery, but forms a separate category. Material, shape, weight, design and placement differ from small crystals. We therefore cover gold tooth jewellery in detail on a separate knowledge page.

How are tooth gems professionally applied?

Professional tooth gems are adhesively bonded to tooth enamel. The exact steps and processing times vary between bonding systems. Always follow the instructions for use of the system being used.

How does the BLINQ® bonding system work?

Within the BLINQ® bonding system, the adhesive process consists of three clear product steps: Blue Etch, Primer and Glue. Each step has its own function within surface preparation and adhesion. The products must be used in the prescribed order and according to the corresponding instructions for use.

What determines whether a tooth gem bonds well?

Good adhesion is not created by one product or one action. It is the result of a sequence of steps that must work together correctly.

Why is saliva contamination so important?

A clean and dry working field is important during adhesive dental procedures. If a prepared surface becomes contaminated with saliva again, this can affect adhesion. Do not simply continue as though nothing has happened.

If contamination occurs, restore the correct working conditions and follow the bonding system instructions for reconditioning the surface. Which step needs to be repeated can vary by product.

Why not use nail glue or superglue?

Where is the best place to position a tooth gem?

Not every area of a tooth is equally suitable in practice. Position affects the appearance of the design, but also the load placed on the tooth gem and therefore the likelihood that it will remain in place.

Upper and lower teeth

Tooth gems are often placed on the upper front teeth, but designs on lower teeth are also possible. With lower teeth, it is especially important to assess the bite and available space.

A gem on a lower tooth may, for example, be subjected to mechanical loading sooner from the upper teeth, the lip or during eating. Its longevity in certain positions may therefore be shorter than on a favourably positioned upper tooth.

Crowns, veneers and composite

A crown, veneer or composite restoration has a different surface from natural enamel. A bonding protocol intended for enamel therefore cannot automatically be applied to these materials.

For a cosmetic tooth gem artist, it is sensible to limit a standard tooth gem protocol to suitable natural enamel unless there is demonstrable knowledge, appropriate professional authority and a bonding protocol specifically intended for the relevant restorative material.

How long does a tooth gem stay on?

Two identical crystals placed with the same bonding system do not necessarily remain in place for exactly the same length of time. Conditions during placement and the load afterwards vary from person to person and from tooth to tooth.

Can a tooth gem come off unexpectedly?

Yes. A tooth gem is adhesively bonded and is not a permanent part of the tooth. Even when the placement has been carried out correctly, the crystal may come off at some point.

This does not automatically mean that the treatment was performed incorrectly. Mechanical loading, bite pattern, the position of the jewellery and the client’s habits can all play a role.

Hard foods and biting directly

A tooth gem is subjected to the greatest load when hard or chewy food comes directly into contact with the crystal. Examples include biting into hard fruit, crusty bread rolls or similar foods that place considerable force on the front teeth.

It is therefore sensible to explain to clients that they should not deliberately bite on, pick at or play with the jewellery.

Which curing light should you use for tooth gems?

The bonding material used for tooth gems may be light-cured. In that case, the material contains a photoinitiator system that is activated by light within a suitable wavelength range. The curing light provides the energy that polymerises the bonding material and allows it to develop its final properties.

A curing light is therefore not simply any blue light. Professional dental curing lights are specifically designed for polymerising light-cured dental materials.

What is the difference between a curing light, whitening lamp and nail lamp?

These devices can all produce visible blue or violet light, but they are designed for different applications.

Does a more powerful curing light automatically mean you can cure for less time?

Not automatically. Light intensity and exposure time are related, but the required curing time also depends on the bonding material, the photoinitiator system, the curing light used and how effectively the light reaches the material.

Some modern dental systems are designed for very short curing times. However, this does not mean that every bonding material can simply be cured for one or a few seconds with any high-powered light.

How long does a curing light last?

The practical lifespan of a curing light can vary considerably. From our experience with professional tooth gem use, we see many curing lights being used for around 6 months to 2 years before the battery, electronics, light guide or light output give reason for replacement.

This is expressly not a guaranteed lifespan. Some lights last considerably longer, while another unit may fail sooner. Quality, frequency of use, charging habits, maintenance, heat, drops or impacts, and simply variation between individual electronic components can all play a role.

Why can’t you compare the lifespan with that of a whitening lamp?

A teeth-whitening lamp and a dental curing light have very different functions. A whitening lamp distributes light over a relatively large area of the dentition. A curing light, by contrast, must direct a powerful, concentrated beam through a light guide onto a small treatment area so that the light-cured bonding material can polymerise.

A cordless curing light is also a compact device in which the light source, battery, electronics and light guide work intensively together. In professional use, the light may be switched on, used and recharged several times a day.

The load and construction therefore differ greatly from those of a whitening lamp. The expected lifespan of the two types of equipment cannot be compared one-to-one.

From basic models to high-end dental curing lights

Dental curing lights are available in very different quality and price ranges. There are relatively simple models for tooth gem artists, as well as high-end clinical systems that can cost many hundreds to well over a thousand euros.

A higher price does not automatically mean that such a light is necessary for tooth gems. For this application, it is especially important that the light functions reliably and is compatible with the bonding material being used.

The battery is a wear component

Cordless curing lights use a rechargeable battery. As with other devices, battery capacity gradually decreases after many charging cycles.

Over time, the light may run down more quickly, need charging more often or operate reliably for shorter periods. Eventually, replacement of the battery or the light itself may be necessary.

The light guide is an important and vulnerable component

The light is concentrated and directed towards the bonding material on the tooth through the light guide. Damage to the light guide can therefore affect the amount and distribution of light reaching the treatment area.

Light guides can be damaged if the curing light is dropped or knocked hard against something. Treat the light as professional precision equipment and place it somewhere safe during treatment.

Keep the end of the light guide clean

If the light guide touches uncured bonding material during curing, material can adhere to the tip and polymerise there.

If this happens repeatedly, a layer of cured material can build up. This can block part of the light. The curing light may still appear to work normally, while less useful light actually reaches the bonding material.

Protect a curing light from high temperatures

High temperatures can be harmful to the battery and electronics. Do not leave a curing light in direct sunlight for long periods, on a sunny windowsill or in a hot car.

Do you work outdoors, at events or festivals with tooth gems? Keep the curing light protected from direct sunlight and extreme heat.

When should a curing light be checked or replaced?

If you are unsure about the performance of the curing light, checking or replacing it is more sensible than trying to compensate for potentially reduced output by simply curing for longer without knowing the cause.

What aftercare should you give after placing a tooth gem?

Even so, it is sensible not to subject a newly placed tooth gem to unnecessary heavy loading initially. Biting directly into hard foods, touching it repeatedly, playing with it or picking at the crystal can place extra force on the placement.

Good oral hygiene also remains important. A tooth gem sits on the tooth surface and creates additional margins where plaque can accumulate more easily if cleaning is inadequate.

Do you need to wait 24 hours before brushing after placement?

With a correctly performed light-curing bonding protocol, the bonding material does not need to air-dry for hours. It is polymerised during treatment with the curing light.

There is therefore no need to avoid cleaning the tooth completely for a full day. It can, however, be sensible to be gentle immediately after placement and not scrub aggressively against the crystal with a hard toothbrush.

Always follow any additional aftercare instructions for the bonding material or bonding system being used. Product-specific manufacturer instructions remain authoritative.

Can you use an electric toothbrush with tooth gems?

In general, oral hygiene can also be continued with an electric toothbrush. The client does not need to skip the tooth with the tooth gem. What matters is careful brushing without deliberately pressing hard against or behind the jewellery.

Placement also matters here. A well-positioned and neatly finished tooth gem should be placed in a way that allows normal oral hygiene to continue.

What if plaque or food remains around the tooth gem?

Oral hygiene should then be improved. A tooth gem should never be a reason for plaque to remain on the tooth surface for prolonged periods.

If someone cannot clean around the jewellery properly, that is an important reason to reassess the situation. Long-term plaque accumulation around tooth jewellery is undesirable for both the tooth and the gums.

What should you do if a tooth gem comes loose?

A tooth gem can eventually come loose. Do not try to lever a partially loose piece of jewellery off the tooth yourself with sharp objects, and do not try to glue it back on at home.

Have the situation professionally assessed if bonding material remains on the tooth or if the jewellery is still partially attached.

How are tooth gems professionally removed?

A tooth gem is bonded to the tooth surface with an adhesive bonding material. When the crystal is removed, bonding material may remain on the tooth.

Simply detaching the crystal is therefore not the same as completing the removal properly. The tooth surface should then be checked, and any remaining bonding material should be removed and finished appropriately.

Who should remove a tooth gem?

If a tooth gem is still firmly attached and needs to be actively removed, we recommend having it assessed and removed by a dentist or dental hygienist .

These dental professionals can assess the tooth surface and have the knowledge and instruments needed to remove remaining material in a controlled way and, where necessary, finish or polish the surface.

What if a tooth gem comes off by itself?

A tooth gem may come off by itself over time. This does not automatically mean that all bonding material has disappeared from the tooth as well.

If the tooth surface feels smooth afterwards and there are no visible or palpable residues, the situation may be different from one in which a clear layer of bonding remains. If in doubt, assessment by a dental professional is advisable.

Can a tooth gem that has come off be reapplied?

A new placement should be treated as a new adhesive procedure. First check whether the tooth surface is suitable and whether any bonding residue remains.

Do not simply place new bonding material over old, unknown or uneven residues without first assessing and preparing the surface correctly.

Why shouldn’t you scrape bonding material off a tooth yourself?

Bonding material can be very similar in colour to tooth enamel. For someone without dental experience, it can therefore be difficult to identify exactly where the bonding ends and the natural enamel begins.

Uncontrolled filing, grinding or scraping therefore carries a risk of damaging not only the bonding material but also the tooth surface.

When is it better not to place a tooth gem?

Professional tooth gem placement is not only about knowing how to bond a crystal. You must also recognise when a tooth or oral situation does not appear suitable for a cosmetic treatment and when dental assessment should come first.

A tooth gem artist without dental authority does not make a diagnosis. You do not need to determine exactly what is wrong. You do, however, need to recognise deviations from a normal appearance and know when it is better not to treat.

A white spot on a tooth is not automatically only cosmetic

White, brown or locally abnormal areas can have different causes. Sometimes a discolouration is harmless, but appearance alone does not always tell a tooth gem artist exactly what is going on.

Do not deliberately place a tooth gem over a noticeable area simply to hide it when it is unclear whether the tooth surface is healthy and suitable.

Oral hygiene is part of client selection

A professional design must remain cleanable. Large clusters, several crystals placed close together or a placement near the gum line may require more attention during brushing.

This does not mean that more elaborate designs are automatically unsuitable. The tooth gem artist should allow enough space for cleaning, and the client must be willing and able to keep the area clean.

Screening is different from diagnosing

During the intake, a cosmetic tooth gem artist can look at whether the teeth, gums and oral tissues appear normal and suitable for treatment. That is screening and selection.

Determining whether someone has caries, an enamel abnormality, gum disease or another dental condition is different. That requires dental assessment.

If there is doubt, the professional choice is not to guess what the cause probably is, but to postpone treatment and refer the client to an appropriate dental professional.

How do you work hygienically and safely with tooth gems?

During a tooth gem treatment, you work directly in and around the mouth. Materials and instruments may therefore come into contact with saliva, mucous membranes and potentially other body fluids.

A consistent hygiene routine reduces the risk of microorganisms being transferred from one client to another via hands, materials, surfaces or instruments.

Single-use means one client, one treatment

Items intended for single use are not cleaned and then reused on another client.

With tooth gems, this often includes small applicators such as microbrushes, disposable brushes, gauze and other aids that may come into contact with the client or treatment area.

Prevent contamination of product packaging

Work in a way that keeps the contents and openings of bottles, tubes and other packaging clean. A used microbrush or applicator that has already been in or around the mouth should never be returned to a product container.

Where possible, dispense the required amount of material in advance or use a method in which the product is applied directly to a clean disposable applicator without touching the packaging with used materials.

Microbrushes: a small tool that makes a big difference

Microbrushes are used during a bonding protocol to apply small amounts of product in a controlled way. Because different steps use different materials, cross-contamination between products should be prevented.

Use a clean applicator for each product step and do not place used microbrushes back among unused materials.

Work with clearly separated clean and used zones

An organised work area helps prevent cross-contamination. Before treatment, distinguish between items that are still clean and items that have been used during the procedure.

Reusable instruments must be processed correctly

Not every instrument is disposable. Reusable instruments must be cleaned between clients and then processed according to their intended use and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Reusable instruments that come into contact with oral mucosa must be correctly cleaned and processed between clients according to their intended use and the manufacturer’s instructions. Heat-resistant instruments suitable for sterilisation are sterilised according to an appropriate protocol. If an instrument cannot be safely reprocessed, use a suitable disposable or reprocessable alternative.

Clean and disinfect the work surface between clients

Worktops, treatment surfaces and other touch points can become indirectly contaminated during a treatment via gloves or used materials.

Clean and disinfect relevant contact surfaces between clients according to the instructions for the cleaning or disinfecting product being used. Pay particular attention to surfaces that are frequently touched during treatment.

Etch is not an innocuous beauty product

Dental etch is designed to prepare the tooth surface in a controlled way for adhesive bonding. It should only be applied to the intended tooth surface.

Avoid unnecessary contact with gums, oral mucosa, skin and eyes, and work precisely according to the instructions for the specific product.

Never extend the etching time or enlarge the treatment area on your own initiative in the belief that this will automatically improve adhesion. More etching is not automatically better.

Saliva contamination during the bonding process

A tooth gem treatment takes place in a moist environment. Isolation is therefore one of the most important practical aspects of the technique.

If the prepared tooth surface comes into contact with saliva again during a critical bonding step, do not automatically continue to the next step. First restore a clean, dry working field and follow the instructions for the bonding system when re-preparing the surface.

Keep the tooth gems themselves clean as well

If a crystal lands on a contaminated surface, on the floor or among used instruments before placement, do not simply place it on the tooth anyway.

Store tooth gems closed and organised, and pick them up during treatment with a suitable clean pick-up tool or applicator.

Learning to place tooth gems professionally

Tooth gem placement may look simple at first, but reliable and neat placement requires more than knowing where to put a crystal. You need to understand why every step in the bonding protocol matters and what to do when the practical situation differs from the ideal.

That is why the X-treme Smile® course covers not only placement itself, but also intake, the tooth surface, isolation, material use, curing, hygiene, aftercare and recognising situations in which it is better not to treat.

Learn online or attend live practical training

The basic Tooth Gem Course can be taken online with X-treme Smile®. This allows students to work through the theory and demonstrations at their own pace.

The online course also includes assessment of a practical placement. The student submits a clear close-up video showing the placement of a crystal on a model. This means we assess not only whether the theory has been completed, but also how the technique is performed in practice.

For those who prefer to practise with direct guidance, live training in Joure is also available.

No specific previous training required

No specific dental or beauty qualification is required to take the basic Tooth Gem Course.

However, this does not automatically mean that every procedure may be carried out without restriction in every country. Laws and regulations relating to cosmetic treatments, dental materials and professional scope of practice vary by country.

Anyone wishing to work professionally with tooth gems remains responsible for the rules that apply in the country where the treatments are offered.

From basic technique to advanced designs

A strong basic placement technique is the foundation for more elaborate designs. Once isolation, bonding, positioning and finishing are well controlled, more complex combinations of crystals and shapes can be created.

Within the X-treme Smile® Academy, we are therefore developing advanced Tooth Gems Masterclasses alongside the basic course, including techniques for Tooth Fairy Dust, Butterfly Tooth Gems and other advanced designs.

This creates a clear learning pathway: basic placement → masterclasses → advanced tooth gem artist.

Support does not stop after the course

Many practical questions only arise once you start treating clients independently. A crystal that sits differently than expected, difficult isolation, uncertainty about a tooth surface or bonding that behaves differently: this is exactly when practical support is valuable.

That is why students can continue to contact X-treme Smile® after the course with practical questions about tooth gems, materials and treatment situations.

Professional products for tooth gems

A professional tooth gem treatment requires more than the crystal itself. Placement quality depends on the combination of suitable tooth gems, bonding materials, applicators, isolation and a reliable dental curing light.